University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


Gift  of 
Prof.  Thomas  Rothwell 


UNIFORM   WITH 
JOHN  DOUGH  AND  THE  CHERUB 


THE  LAND  OF  OZ 

BY  L.  FRANK  BAUM 

Elaborately  illustrated— in  colors 

and  black-and-white  by 

JOHN  R.  NEILL 


and  the 


LFranK 

Baum 

AUTHOR  OF 
THE  WIZARD  OF  OZ 

THE  LAND  OF  OZ 
THE  WOGGIE-BUG  BOOK 
FATHER  GOOSE 
QUEEN  ZIXI  OF  IX 
THE  ENCHANTED  ISLAND 
OF  YEW,  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED  BY 

John  R,  Neill 


CHICAGO 

THE  REILLY  &  BRIT  TON  COMPANY 
PUBLISHERS 


(PoPVRICiHT,  I90b,  BY 

I        pj_   .1 '  O / 


rwyyoung  friend 


LIST  OF  CHAPTERS 


THE  GREAT  ELIXIR  .          .          9 

THE  Two   FLASKS     .  .       22 

THE  GINGERBREAD   MAN  .  27 

JOHN    DOUGH    BEGINS    HIS  AD- 
VENTURES    .        ..''••         .       41 

CHICK,  THE  CHERUB  .  .        59 

THE  FREAKS  OF  PHREEX  .  .      104 

THE  LADY  EXECUTIONER  .      121 

THE   PALACE  OF  ROMANCE  .      140 

THE  SILVER  PIG        .         .  .159 

PlTTYPAT    AND    THE     MlFKETS       .        l66 

THE  ISLAND  PRINCESS  .  .;'; .  185 
PARA  BRUIN,  THE  RUBBER  BEAR  0.06 
BLACK  OOBOO  .  220 

UNDER   LAND  AND 

WATER          .          .     238 

THE    FAIRY   BEAVERS     252 

THE    FLIGHT    OF   THE 

FLAMINGOES  .     273 

SPORT   OF  PIRATE 

ISLAND  .          .     284 

HlLAND    AND      LOLAND        294. 

KING  DOUGH  AND  HIS 

COURT  .         .         .     308 


BOY  OR   GIRL? 


The  feat 


Over  the  door  appeared  a  weather-worn  sign 
that  read:  "JULES  GROGRANDE,  BAKER." 
In  one  of  the  windows,  painted  upon  a  sheet  of 
cardboard,  was  another  sign:  "  Home-made  Bread 
by  the  Best  Modern  Machinery."  There  was  a 
third  sign  in  the  window  beyond  the  doorway,  and 
this  was  marked  upon  a  bit  of  wrapping-paper, 
and  said:  "  Fresh  Gingerbread  Every  Day." 

When  you  opened  the  door,  the  top  of  it  struck 
a  brass  bell  suspended  from  the  ceiling  and  made 
it  tinkle  merrily.  Hearing  the  sound,  Madame 
Leontine  Grogrande  would  come  from  her  little 
room  back  of  the  shop  and  stand  behind  the  coun- 
ter and  ask  you  what  you  would  like  to  purchase. 

Madame  Leontine  —  or  Madame  Tina,  as  the 
children  called  her  —  was  quite  short  and  quite  fat; 
and  she  had  a  round,  pleasant  face  that  was  good 
to  look  upon.  She  moved  somewhat  slowly,  for 
the  rheumatism  troubled  her  more  or  less;  but  no 
one  minded  if  Madame  was  a  bit  slow  in  tying  up 
her  parcels.  For  surely  no  cakes  or  buns  in  all  the 

9 


The      Great      El 


i  x  i  r 


town  were  so  delicious  or  fresh  as  those  she  sold, 
and  she  had  a  way  of  giving  the  biggest  cakes  to 
the  smallest  girls  and  boys  who  came  into  her  shop, 
that  proved  she  was  fond  of  children  and  had  a 
generous  heart. 

People  loved  to  come  to  the  Grogrande  Bakery. 
When  one  opened  the  door  an  exquisite  fragrance 
of  newly  baked  bread  and  cakes  greeted  the  nos- 
trils; and,  if  you  were  not  hungry  when  you  en- 
tered, you  were  sure  to  become  so  when  you 
examined  and  smelled  the  delicious  pies  and 
doughnuts  and  gingerbread  and  buns  with  which 
the  shelves  and  show-cases  were  stocked.  There 
were  trays  of  French  candies,  too;  and  because  all 
the  goods  were  fresh  and  wholesome  the  bakery 
was  wrell  patronized  and  did  a  thriving  business. 

The  reason  no  one  saw  Monsieur  Jules  in  the 
shop  was  because  his  time  was  always  occupied  in 
the  bakery  in  the  rear — a  long,  low  room  filled 
with  ovens  and  tables  covered  with  pots  and  pans 
and  dishes  (which  the  skillful  baker  used  for  mixing 
and  stirring)  and  long  shelves  bearing  sugars  and 
spices  and  baking-powders  and  sweet-smelling 
extracts  that  made  his  wares  taste  so  sweet  and 
agreeable. 

The   bake-room    was    three  times   as    big  as    the 

10 


AN  ARAB   DASHED    INTO  THE  ROOM. 


ii 


he       Great       E 


i  x   i  r 


shop;  but  Monsieur  Jules  needed  all  the  space  in 
the  preparation  of  the  great  variety  of  goods  re- 
quired by  his  patrons,  and  he  prided  himself  on 
the  fact  that  his  edibles  were  fresh-made  each  day. 
In  order  to  have  the  bread  and  rolls  ready  at 
breakfast  time  he  was  obliged  to  get  up  at  three 
o'clock  every  morning,  and  so  he  went  to  bed 
about  sundown. 

On  a  certain  forenoon  the  door  of  the  shop 
opened  so  abruptly  that  the  little  brass  bell  made 
a  furious  jingling. 

An  Arab  dashed  into  the  room,  stopped  short, 
looked  around  with  a  bewildered  air,  and  then 
rushed  away  again  and  banged  the  door  after  him. 

Madame  looked  surprised,  but  said  nothing. 
She  recognized  the  Arab  to  be  a  certain  Ali  Dubh, 
living  in  the  neighborhood,  who  was  accustomed  to 
purchase  a  loaf  from  her  every  morning.  Perhaps 
he  had  forgotten  his  money,  Madame  thought. 

When  the  afternoon  was  half  over  he  entered 
again,  running  as  if  fiends  were  at  his  heels.  In 
the  center  of  the  room  he  paused,  slapped  his  fore- 
head despairingly  with  both  palms,  and  said  in  a 
wailing  voice: 

"  They  're  after  me!" 

Next  moment  he  dashed  away  at  full  speed,  even 

12 


T  h 


G 


r  e 


at       El 


i  x  i  r 


forgetting  to  close  the  door;  so  Madame  came  from 
behind  the  counter  and  did  it  herself.  She  delayed 
a  moment  to  gaze  at  the  figure  of  Ali  Dubh  racing 
up  the  street.  Then  he  turned  the  corner  of  an 
alley  and  disappeared  from  view. 

Things  did  not  startle  Madame  easily;  but  the 
Arab's  queer  behavior  aroused  in  her  a  mild  curi- 
osity, and  while  she  stood  looking  through  the 
glass  of  the  door,  and  wondering  what  had  ex- 
cited the  man,  she  saw  two  strange  forms  glide 


13 


The      Great      Elixir 

past  her  shop  with  a  stealthy  motion  and  proceed 
in  the  same  direction  Ali  Dubh  had  taken. 

They  were  also  Arabs,  without  a  doubt;  for 
although  their  forms  were  muffled  in  long  cloaks, 
the  turbans  they  wore  and  the  glint  of  their  dark, 
beady  eyes  proclaimed  them  children  of  the  desert. 

When  they  came  to  the  alley  where  Ali  Dubh 
had  disappeared,  the  two  strangers  were  joined  by 
a  third,  who  crept  up  to  them  with  the  sly,  cat-like 
tread  Madame  had  noted,  and  seemed  to  confer 
with  them.  Afterward  one  turned  to  the  east,  a 
second  continued  up  the  street,  and  the  third  stole 
into  the  alley. 

"Yes,"  thought  Madame,  "they  are  after  Ali 
Dubh,  sure  enough.  But  if  they  move  so  slowly 
they  are  not  likely  to  catch  the  poor  fellow  at  all." 

Now,  Madame  knew  very  little  of  her  queer 
customer;  for  although  he  made  a  daily  visit  to  the 
bakery  for  a  loaf  and  a  few  cakes,  he  was  of  a 
gloomy  disposition,  and  never  stopped  for  a  chat  or 
a  bit  of  gossip.  It  was  his  custom  to  silently  make 
his  simple  purchases  and  then  steal  softly  away. 

Therefore  his  excited  actions  upon  this  eventful 
day  were  really  remarkable,  and  the  good  lady  was 
puzzled  how  to  explain  them. 

She  sat  late  in  the  shop  that  evening,  burning  a 

14 


The       Great       El 


i  x  i  r 


dingy  oil  lamp  that  swung  in  the  center  of  the 
room.  For  her  rheumatism  was  more  painful  than 
usual,  and  she  dreaded  to  go  to  bed  and  waken 
Monsieur  Jules  with  her  moanings.  The  good  man 
was  slumbering  peacefully  upstairs  —  she  could  hear 
his  lusty  snores  even  where  she  sat — and  it  was  a 

shame  to  disturb  him  when  he  must  rise  so  early. 

j 

So  she  sat  in  her  little  room  at  the  end  of  the 
counter,  trying  to  knit  by  the  light  of  a  flickering 
candle,  and  rocking  back  and  forth  in  her  chair 
with  a  monotonous  motion. 

Suddenly  the  little  bell  tinkled  and  a  gust  of  air 
entered  the  shop,  sending  the  mingled  odors  of 
baked  stufF  whirling  and  scurrying  about  the  room 
in  a  most  fragrant  manner.  Then  the  door  closed, 
and  Madame  laid  down  her  knitting  and  turned  to 
greet  the  new-comer. 

To  her  astonishment,  it  proved  to  be  Ali  Dubh. 
His  brown  cheeks  were  flushed,  and  his  glittering 
black  eyes  roamed  swiftly  over  the  shop  before  they 
turned  full  upon  the  Madame's  calm  face. 

"Good!"  he  exclaimed,  "you  are  alone." 

"It  is  too  late  for  trade.  I  am  going  to  bed 
presently,"  said  Madame. 

"I  am  in  great  trouble,  and  you  must  help  me," 
returned  the  Arab,  hastily.  "Lock  your  door  and 

15 


The      Great      Elixir 

come  with  me  into  your  little  room,  so  that  no 
one  can  see  us  through  the  street  windows." 

Madame  hesitated.  The  request  was  unusual, 
and  she  knew  nothing  of  the  Arab's  history.  But 
she  reflected  that  if  the  man  attempted  robbery  or 
other  mischief  she  could  summon  Monsieur  Jules 
with  a  cry.  Also,  her  interest  had  been  aroused  by 
Ali  Dubh's  queer  behavior  during  the  day. 

While  she  thought  the  matter  over  the  Arab 
himself  locked  the  street  door  and  hurried  into  the 
little  room,  where  Madame  composedly  joined  him 
a  moment  later. 

"How  can  I  help  you?"  she  asked,  picking  up 
her  knitting  again. 

"Listen!'  said  the  Arab.  "I  must  tell  you  all. 
You  must  know  the  truth! "  Fie  put  his  hand  in 
a  pocket  of  his  loose  robe  and  drew  out  a  small 
flask.  It  was  no  bigger  than  two  fingers  and  was 
made  of  pure  gold,  upon  which  strange  characters 
had  been  richly  engraved. 

"This,"  said  the  Arab,  in  a  low,  impressive  voice, 
"is  the  Great  Elixir!  " 

"What  does  that  mean?"  asked  Madame,  glan- 
cing at  the  flask  doubtfully. 

"The  Great  Elixir?       Ah,    it   is   the  Essence   of 

16 


T  h 


Great      Eli 


x  i  r 


Vitality,  the  Water  of  Life --the  Greatest  Thing 
in  all  the  World!" 

"I  don't  understand,"  said  Madame. 

"Not  understand?  Why,  a  drop  of  the  price- 
less liquid  which  this  Golden  Flask  contains,  if 
placed  upon  your  tongue,  would  send  new  life 
coursing  through  your  veins.  It  would  give  you 
power,  strength,  vitality  greater  than  youth  itself! 


The      Great      El 


i  x  i  r 


You  could  do  anything  —  accomplish  wonders  — 
perform  miracles  —  if  you  but  tasted  this  precious 
liquid!" 

"How  odd!"  exclaimed  Madame,  beginning  to 
feel  bewildered.  And  then  she  asked:  "Where  did 
you  get  it?' 

"Ah!  that  is  the  story.  That  is  what  you  must 
know,"  answered  Ali  Dubh.  "It  is  centuries  old, 
the  Great  Elixir.  There  is  no  more  of  it  in  all  the 
world.  The  contents  of  this  flask  came  into  the 
keeping  ot  the  Ancestor  of  the  Chief  of  my  Tribe 
-whom  we  call  a  Shiek  —  and  has  been  handed 
"iown  from  father  to  son  as  an  heirloom  more 
priceless  than  diamonds.  The  Chief  of  my  Tribe, 
its  last  owner,  carried  the  flask  always  hidden  in 
his  breast.  But  one  day,  when  he  and  I  were 
hunting  together,  a  mad  camel  trampled  the  Shiek 
to  his  death,  and  with  his  last  breath  he  gave  the 
Great  Elixir  into  my  keeping.  The  Shiek  had  no 
son,  and  the  flask  was  really  mine.  But  many 
other  Arab  Shieks  longed  for  the  treasure  and 
sought  to  gain  it.  So  I  escaped  and  wandered  over 
the  world.  I  came  here,  thinking  I  was  safe  from 
pursuit.  But  they  have  followed  me!  ' 

"All    the   way   from    Arabia?"    asked    Madame, 

"Yes.       To-day  I  saw   them.      They    know    my 

18 


The      Great      El 


i  x  i  r 


lodgings.  They  are  secretly  hidden  near,  and 
before  morning  I  know  they  plot  to  kill  me 
and  secure  the  Great  Elixir.  But  for  a  time  1 
have  escaped  them.  I  came  here  unseen.  You 
must  help  me.  You  must  take  charge  of  the 
Great  Elixir  and  keep  it  safely  for  me." 

"Nonsense!'  cried  Madame,  becoming  aroused 
at  last. 

"  Do  not  say  that,  I  beg  of  you,"  exclaimed  the 
eager  Arab.  "You  are  honest — I  know  you  are! 
And  they  will  never  suspect  you  of  having  the 
Golden  Flask." 

"Perhaps  not,"  said  Madame,  "and  then,  again, 
they  may.  My  business  is  to  tend  the  shop,  and  I 
am  not  going  to  get  myself  killed  by  a  lot  of  des- 
perate foreigners  just  to  oblige  you.  Monsieur  Ali 
Dubh!  Take  your  Great  Elixir  to  some  one  else. 
I  don't  want  it." 

For  a  minute  the  Arab  seemed  in  despair.  Then 
his  face  suddenly  brightened. 

"You  suffer  from  rheumatism,  do  you  not?"  he 
asked. 

"Yes,  it's  pretty  bad  to-night,"  she  replied. 

"Then  I  will  cure  it!  I  will  cure  your  pains 
forever  if  you  will  keep  my  precious  Elixir  in 
secret  until  I  come  to  reclaim  it." 

19 


The      Great      E 


i  x  i  r 


Madame  hesitated,  for  just  then  she  had  a  very 
bad  twinge  indeed. 

"You  think  you  can  cure  my  pains?"  she  asked. 

"I  know  it!"  declared  the  Arab.  He  put  his 
hand  in  a  pocket  and  drew  out  another  flask  —  a 
mate  to  the  one  containing  the  Great  Elixir;  only 
this  was  made  of  solid  silver  instead  of  gold. 

"This  flask,"  said  Ali  Dubh,  "contains  a  positive 
cure  for  rheumatism.  It  will  not  fail.  It  never 
has  failed.  Take  it  and  use  it  to  make  yourself 
well.  Five  drops  in  a  bowl  of  water  are  enough. 
Bathe  well  the  limbs  that  ache,  and  all  pain  will  be 
gone  forever.  Accept  it,  gracious  Madame,  and 
keep  for  me  the  other  flask  in  safe  hiding  until  my 
enemies  have  gone  away." 

Madame  was  a  practical  woman,  and  it  seemed 
an  easy  thing  to  do  as  the  Arab  desired.  If  she 
could  get  relief  from  those  dreadful  pains  it  would 
be  well  worth  while  to  undertake  a  little  trouble 
and  responsibility  by  caring  for  Ali  Dubh's  other 
and  more  precious  flask. 

"Very  well,"  said  she.      "I  agree." 

The  Arab's  face  flushed  with  joy. 

"Good,"  he  cried;  "I  am  saved!  Guard  well 
my  precious  flask  —  the  one  of  gold.  Show  it  to  no 
one  —  not  even  to  your  good  husband.  Remember 

20 


T  h 


r  e 


at      El 


i  x  i  r 


that  diamonds  and  rubies  could  not  buy  the  Great 
Elixir — the  marvelous  Essence  of  Vitality.  As  for 
the  silver  flask,  I  give  it  to  you  freely.  Its  con- 
tents will  cure  all  your  ailments.  And  now,  good 
night,  and  may  Allah  bless  you!" 

Swiftly  he  stole  from  the  room,  unlocked  the 
street  door  and  vanished  into  the  darkness.  And 
Madame  sat  looking  thoughtfully  at  the  flasks. 


21 


Presently  she  remembered  that  the  front  door 
was  yet  unlocked.  So  she  trotted  out  into  the 
shop,  bolted  the  door  securely,  drew  down  the  cur- 
tains, -and  put  out  the  dim  light  that  had  burned 
over  the  counter.  Then  Madame  returned  to  the 
little  room  and  looked  at  the  two  flasks  again. 

Aside  from  her  rheumatism  the  good  lady  had 
one  other  physical  weakness;  she  was  color-blind. 
That  is,  she  could  seldom  distinguish  one  color 
from  another,  and  was  quite  liable  to  think  blue 
was  green  and  green  was  yellow.  Many  people 
have  this  trouble  with  their  eyes;  but  it  never  had 
bothered  Madame  especially  in  waiting  upon  her 
customers. 

Now,  however,  when  she  came  back  into  her 
room  and  gazed  at  the  two  flasks  upon  her  table, 
she  had  no  idea  which  one  was  of  gold  and  which 
of  silverr  for  the  weakness  of  her  eyes  prevented 
her  from  telling  them  apart  by  means  of  their 
color. 

"Let   me  see,"    she    murmured;    "this   must   be 

22 


The        Two        Flasks 

the  flask  which  the  Arab  first  drew  from  his  pocket. 
No  —  I  think  this  was  the  one."  But  the  more  she 
hesitated  the  more  confused  she  became,  and  in  the 
end  she  told  herself  honestly  that  she  had  not  the 
faintest  clue  to  guide  her  in  knowing  which  flask 
contained  the  Essence  of  Vitality  and  which  the 
cure  for  rheumatism. 

And  the  pains  were  now  so  bad  that  she  was 
anxious  to  cure  them  without  a  moment's  delay. 

The  engraving  on  the  two  flasks  was  nearly  the 
same;  and  if  some  of  those  queer  foreign  charac- 
ters really  differed,  Madame  did  not  know  it.  Also 
in  size  and  shape  the  flasks  were  exactly  alike. 
Truly  Madame  was  in  a  fine  quandary,  and  there 
seemed  no  way  of  getting  out  of  it  with  safety. 

She  had  almost  decided  to  hide  both  flasks  until 
the  Arab  returned,  when  several  sharp  twinges  of 
pain  caught  her  and  made  her  long  most  earnestly 
for  relief.  If  she  went  to  bed  now  she  would  be 
sure  to  suffer  all  night,  and  in  one  of  the  flasks  was 
a  sure  cure. 

"I'll  guess  at  it,  and  take  the  chances!"  declared 
Madame,  firmly.  And  then,  choosing  at  hap- 
hazard, she  hid  the  silver  flask  behind  the  mirror 
and  put  the  gold  one  in  her  pocket.  Afterward 
she  picked  up  the  lamp  and  walked  as  silently  as 

23 


T  h 


T 


w   o 


F  1 


a   s 


possible     through    the    short    passage    that    led    to 
Monsieur  Jules'  bake-room. 

The  big  place  was  still  and  dark,  and  the  little 
lamp  only  brightened  a  small  part  of  it.  But 
Madame  did  not  care  for  that.  Those  pains  were 
getting  extremely  hard  to  bear,  and  she  had  even 
ceased  to  care  whether  or  not  she  had  selected  the 
right  flask. 

Taking  a  brown  bowl  from  the  shelf  she  drew  it 
nearly  full  of  water  and  then  placed  it  upon  a 
corner  of  the  long,  white  mixing-table,  beside  the 

lamp.  Next  she 
took  the  golden 
flask  from  her 
pocket. 

"How  much 
did  the  Arab  say 
to  put  in  the  wa- 
ter?' she  won- 
dered, pausing 
in  perplexed 
thought.  "I  de- 
clare, I've  ac- 
tually forgotten  ! 
But  he  said  it  was 
sure  to  cure  me, 

24 


wo        F    1    a    s 


so  I  may  as  well  use  all  the  flask  contains. 
For,  after  I  am  cured,  I  shall  not  need  any  more 
of  it." 

Reasoning  thus,  Madame  removed  the  stopper 
and  poured  into  the  bowl  every  drop  of  that 
precious  Elixir  which  Ali  Dubh  had  prized  more 
than  life  itself,  and  which  his  wild  countrymen  had 
come  all  the  way  from  Arabia  to  America  to 
possess.  For  generation  after  generation  the  price- 
less liquor  had  been  preserved  with  jealous  care, 
and  now  the  baker's  wife  was  rubbing  it  upon  her 
limbs  in  an  endeavor  to  cure  the  pangs  of  rheu- 
matism! 

She  used  very  little  of  the  contents  of  the  bowl, 
after  all.  The  touch  of  the  Elixir  upon  her  skin, 
although  it  was  diluted  with  so  much  water,  sent 
a  glow  of  exhilaration  throughout  all  her  stout 
body. 

The  pains  were  suddenly  eased,  and  Madame 
began  to  feel  as  light  and  airy  as  a  fairy,  in  spite 
of  her  great  mass  of  flesh. 

It  occurred  to  her  that  she  would  like  to  dance; 
to  run  and  shout,  to  caper  about  as  she  used  to  do 
as  a  girl.  But  soon  her  shrewd  common  sense  re- 
turned, and  she  told  herself  this  was  but  the  effect 
of  the  wonderful  medicine,  and  that  the  wisest 

25 


T  h 


T 


W     O 


F  1 


a  s 


thing  she  could  do  was  to  go  to  bed  and  sleep 
soundly  while  she  might. 

Being  still  somewhat  bewildered,  the  good  wo- 
man picked  up  the  lamp,  and,  leaving  the  bowl 
containing  the  Elixir  standing  upon  the  table, 
mounted  the  stairs  with  lighter  steps  than  she  had 
known  in  years. 

Five  minutes  later  she  was  in  bed,  snoring  as 
loudly  as  Monsieur  Jules  himself. 


26 


The  baker  awoke  at  three  o'clock,  and  soon 
afterward  came  downstairs  yawning  and  rubbing 
his  eyes  in  his  accustomed  manner.  For  it  is  a  real 
hardship  to  arise  in  the  middle  of  the  night  and  go 
to  work,  and  Monsieur  Jules  sometimes  regretted 
he  was  such  a  skillful  baker;  for  any  other  profes- 
sion would  have  allowed  him  to  sleep  until  daylight. 
But  the  bread  and  rolls  and  gingerbread  must  be 
fresh  and  warm  by  breakfast  time,  or  the  people 
would  be  sadly  disappointed;  and  the  only  possible 
way  to  get  them  ready  was  to  start  the  work  at 
three  o'clock. 

First,  he  lighted  the  big  swinging  lamps,  which 
made  the  room  bright  as  day,  and  then  he  built 
the  fires  in  the  great  furnaces.  Presently  these  last 
were  roaring  in  a  very  business-like  manner,  and  as 
soon  as  he  heard  the  roar  Monsieur  Jules  began  to 
whistle.  It  was  his  custom,  and  kept  him  from 
getting  lonesome  while  he  worked. 

27 


The      Gingerbread      Man 

Next  he  kneaded  the  bread,  formed  it  into 
loaves,  and  placed  them  in  long  rows  upon  the 
slabs — ready  for  the  oven.  The  rolls  were  then 


mixed  and  kneaded,  and  it  took  a  longer  time  to 
get  them  ready  than  it  had  the  bread,  for  they  were 
small  and  quite  daintily  shaped.  But  at  last  the 

28 


The      Gingerbread      Man 

important  task  was  completed,  and  while  they 
were  rising  and  the  ovens  heating,  Monsieur  mixed 
his  gingerbread  and  cakes. 

Somehow,  the  work  progressed  very  swiftly  this 
morning,  and  after  a  time  the  baker  found  he  had 
a  good  hour  to  spare  before  the  ovens  would  be 
ready. 

Then  a  sudden  idea  struck  him. 

"Why,  to-day  is  the  Fourth  of  July, "he  thought, 
"and  that  is  a  National  Holiday.  I  think  I  will 
make  a  fine  gingerbread  man,  such  as  I  used  to 
make  in  Paris,  and  put  it  in  the  shop  window  to 
attract  attention.  These  Americans  like  enterprise, 
and  they  have  never  seen  a  gingerbread  man,  for  I 
have  not  made  one  since  I  came  to  this  country." 

With  Monsieur  Jules,  to  think  was  to  act,  and 
scarcely  had  he  spoken  these  words  when  he  began 
to  gather  his  material  together  for  a  great  batch  of 
gingerbread  dough.  For  he  resolved  that  the  man 
he  was  about  to  make  should  be  big  enough  and 
fine  enough  to  arouse  the  wonder  of  all  be- 
holders. 

He  began  by  filling  a  great  bowl  with  flour,  and 
then  rubbed  into  the  flour  some  butter  and  lard. 
"  That  will  make  it  short,"  said  Monsieur,  "  although 
it  is  to  be  a  tall  man."  Then  he  added  some 

29 


The      Gingerbread      Man 

molasses.  "He  will  be  a  sweet  fellow,"  thought 
the  baker,  smiling  at  his  own  pleasantries.  Then 
he  shook  in  the  ginger  and  several  fragrant  spices, 
and  began  mixing  the  dough  into  one  great  mass. 

"It  is  too  stiff,"  reflected  the  baker,  a  few  mo- 
ments later.  "My  man  must  not  be  stiff,  for  that 
would  render  him  disagreeable."  He  laughed  at 
the  whimsical  thought,  and  glancing  around,  saw 
the  brown  bowl  that  Madame  had  left  sitting  upon 
a  corner  of  the  table.  It  was  nearly  full  of  the 
precious  liquid,  and  Monsieur  Jules,  with  his  mind 
intent  upon  his  work,  never  stopped  to  wonder 
how  it  came  there.  Perhaps  he  thought  he  had 
himself  unconsciously  filled  the  bowl  with  water. 
Anyway,  he  dumped  all  of  the  Essence  of  Vitality 
—  the  Great  Elixir  which  could  never  be  duplicated 
in  all  the  world  —  into  the  mass  of  dough  he  was 
preparing  for  his  gingerbread  man! 

Monsieur  merely  noticed  that  the  dough  had  now 
become  the  proper  consistency,  and  mixed  easily. 

Whistling  merrily,  he  presently  spread  the  huge 
batch  of  dough  upon  the  big  table  and  began  roll- 
ing it  and  working  it  into  the  shape  he  desired. 

Ah,  but  Monsieur  Jules  Grogrande  was  a  true 
artist,  although  a  baker!  Under  his  skillful  hands 
the  gingerbread  man  slowly  but  surely  took  form; 

30 


THEN  A  SUDDEN  IDEA  STRUCK  HIM. 


31 


The      Gingerbread      Man 


and  the  form  was  fully  as  large  as  that  of  a  well- 
grown  fourteen-year-old  boy.  But  it  was  by  no 
means  a  boy  that  Monsieur  was  forming  with  such 
care;  it  was,  rather,  the  figure  of  a  typical  French 
gentleman,  such  as  may  seldom  be  met  with  else- 
where than  on  the  boulevards  of  Paris.  It  was 
interesting  to  watch  the  figure  grow:  interesting,  of 
course,  to  Monsieur  Jules,  as  there  was  no  one 
else  in  the  bake-room  to  see. 

32 


The      Gingerbrea  d      Man 

The  man  appeared  to  be  dressed  in  excellent 
fashion.  Monsieur  made  him  a  collar  and  shirt-front 
of  white  bread  dough,  which  looked  very  beautiful  in 
contrast  to  the  brown  gingerbread-dough  of  his 
clothes.  Then  with  a  lump  of  dough,  carefully 
kneaded,  he  formed  the  man's  necktie,  making  a 
very  artistic  bow  indeed.  A  waistcoat  of  fashion- 
able cut  was  next  added.  The  buttons  on  the 
man's  coat  were  white  lozenges,  and  to  represent 
shoes  the  baker  mixed  his  dough  with  licorice,  until 
the  shoes  seemed  as  black  and  shiny  as  if  freshly 
polished. 

You  would  have  loved  to  see,  could  you  have  been 
present,  the  delicate  skill  with  which  the  clever 
baker  carved  the  hands  and  fingers  of  his  man,  using 
a  small  but  sharp  knife,  and  patting  and  rounding 
each  dough  finger  into  proper  shape.  He  even 
clipped  from  a  sheet  of  transparent  celluloid  the 
finger-nails,  and  pressed  them  carefully  into  the 
dough  at  the  ends  of  the  fingers.  Who  but 
Monsieur  would  ever  have  thought  of  such  a  thing? 

But,  after  all,  it  was  upon  the  face  that  the 
baker  exercised  his  best  skill.  As  a  sculptor  forms 
his  models  out  of  clay,  so  Monsieur  pressed  and 
squeezed  and  molded  his  pliant  dough,  until  every 
feature  of  the  gingerbread  man  became  wonder- 

33 


The      Gingerbread      Man 


fully  lifelike.  Of  course  the  face 
was  made  of  the  white  dough, 
with  just  a  trifle  of  the  pink 
coloring  mixed  into  it  to  make 
it  resemble  real  flesh.  But  the 
wavy  hair  that  surrounded  the 
face  was  of  gingerbread-dough, 
as  its  brown  color,  after  it  had 


been    baked,     would    be     quite 
natural  and  lifelike. 

Among  the  things  brought 
from  Paris  by  the  Grograndes 
was  a  pair  of  excellent  glass 
eyes,  and  Monsieur  Jules  rum- 
maged in  a  drawer  until  he 

34 


T  h  e      Gingerbread      Man 

found  them,  and  then  pressed  them  into  the  dough 
face.  And  now  it  positively  seemed  that  the 
gingerbread  man  was  looking  at  you,  and  the  eyes 
lent  its  face  a  gentle  and  kindly  expression. 

"There's  something  lacking,  however,"  mur- 
mured the  baker,  looking  at  his  work  critically. 
"Ah,  I  know  —  it's  the  teeth!" 

Teeth  for  a  gingerbread  man!  But  nothing 
was  easier  to  represent,  once  their  absence  was 
noted.  Between  the  lips  of  the  man  our  baker 
pressed  two  rows  of  small  white  candies,  and  it  was 
wonderful  to  remark  the  pleasant  smile  that  now 
lent  its  charm  to  the  face. 

With  a  sigh  of  satisfaction  in  the  result  of  his 
work,  the  baker  at  last  declared  his  gingerbread  man 
ready  for  the  oven. 

"And  it  is  my  masterpiece!'  cried  Monsieur 
Jules,  proudly.  «  Never,  even  in  Paris,  have  I  seen 
so  perfect  a  man  of  dough.  He  is  well  worthy  to 
have  a  name,  and  I  will  call  him  John  Dough, 
which  will  be  appropriate,  indeed!' 

But  the  great  ovens  were  now  glowing  brightly, 
so  Monsieur  filled  them  with  bread  and  rolls,  and 
watched  them  carefully  until  the  big  and  little 
loaves  were  all  done  to  a  turn.  The  cakes  and 
cookies  came  next,  and  by  the  time  that  dawn 

35 


The      Gingerbread      Man 

arrived  the  front  shop  was  stocked  with  heaps  of 
the  warm,  fresh-smelling  loaves  and  rolls,  and  trays 
of  delicious  cakes  and  buns,  hot  from  the  ovens. 

Then  the  baker  came  back  to  his  gingerbread 
man,  which  he  first  placed  gently  upon  a  great  iron 
slab,  and  then  slid  it  all  into  the  open  door  of  a 
perfectly  heated  oven. 

With  great  anxiety  Monsieur  watched  the  oven. 
The  dough  was  properly  mixed,  the  workmanship 
was  most  excellent.  Would  the  baking  turn  out 
to  be  as  perfect  as  the  rest?  Much  good  dough 
may  be  spoiled  in  the  baking.  None  knew  that 
better  than  Jules  Grogrande. 

So  he  tended  the  oven  with  nervous  care,  and 
finally,  at  exactly  the  right  moment,  the  baker 
threw  open  the  oven  door  and  drew  out  the  sheet 
of  iron  upon  which  the  great  and  grand  ginger- 
bread man  rested. 

He  was  baked  to  perfection! 

Filled  with  pride  and  satisfaction,  Monsieur  bent 
admiringly  over  his  great  creation;  and  as  he  did 
so,  the  gingerbread  man  moved,  bent  his  back,  sat 
up,  ancHooked  about  him  with  his  glass  eyes,  while 
a  wondering  expression  crept  over  his  face. 

"Dear  me!'  said  he,  "  is  n't  it  very  warm  and 
close  in  this  room?" 

36 


The     Gingerbread     Man 


The  Great  Elixir  had  accomplished  its  purpose. 
The  wonderful  Essence  of  Vitality,  prized  for  cen- 
turies and  closely  guarded,  had  lent  its  marvelous 
powers  of  energy,  strength,  and  life  to  a  gingerbread 
man!  And  all  through  the  stupidity  of  a  baker's 
wife  who  was  color-blind  and  could  not  distinguish 
a  golden  flask  from  a  silver  one! 

Monsieur  Jules,  who  knew  nothing  of  the  Arab's 
flasks,  or  of  the  Great  Elixir,  glared  wildly  into  the 
glass  eyes  of  the  gingerbread  man.  He  was  at 

37 


The      Gingerbread      Man 

first  sure  that  his  own  eyes,  and  also  his  ears,  had 
played  him  a  trick. 

"John  Dough — John  Dough!'  he  cried,  "did 
you  speak?  Merciful  heavens!  Did  you  speak, 
John  Dough?" 

"I  did,"  said  the  gingerbread  man,  struggling  to 
rise  from  the  slab,  "and  I  declare  that  it  is  warm 
and  close  in  this  room!' 

Monsieur  Jules  gave  a  scream  of  terror.  Then 
he  turned  and  fled. 

A  moment  later  he  staggered  into  the  shop, 
tossed  his  hands  above  his  head,  and  fell  in  a  heap 
upon  the  floor — being  overcome  by  a  fainting  spell. 

Madame,  who  had  just  come  downstairs  and 
opened  the  shop,  gazed  upon  her  husband's  terrified 
actions  with  an  amazement  that  prevented  her  from 
moving  a  limb  or  uttering  a  sound. 

What  in  the  world  could  have  happened  to  Jules? 

Then  she  received  the  greatest  shock  of  her  life.* 

From  out  the  door  of  the  bake-room  came  a 
gingerbread  man,  so  fresh  from  the  oven  that  the 
odor  of  hot  gingerbread  surrounded  him  like  a 
cloud.  He  looked  neither  to  right  nor  left,  but 
picked  Monsieur's  tall  silk  hat  from  off  a  peg  and 
placed  it  carelessly  upon  his  own  head.  Next  he 
caught  up  a  large  candy  cane  from  a  show-case, 

38 


MONSIEUR  JULES  TURNED  AND  FLED. 


39 


The      Gingerbread      Man 


stepped  over  the  prostrate  body  of  the  baker,  and 
so  left  the  shop,  closing  the  front  door  behind  him. 

Madame  saw  him  passing  the  windows,  stepping 
along    briskly    and 
swinging    the    cane    in 
his    left  hand. 

Then  the  good  lady 
imitated  her  husband's 
example.  She  gave  a 


shrill  scream,  threw  up 
her  hands,  and  tumbled 
over  unconscious. 


40 


Now,  when  John  Dough  left  Madame  Grogrande's 
shop  and  wandered  up  the  street,  he  was  reeking 
with  the  delightful  odor  of  fresh  gingerbread. 
Indeed,  he  was  still  so  hot  from  the  oven  that  I  am 
positive  you  could  not  have  held  your  hand  against 
him  for  more  than  a  second.  The  Great  Elixir 
had  brought  him  to  life,  and  given  him  a  certain 
standing  in  the  world;  but  during  the  first  half- 
hour  of  his  existence  John  Dough  was  very  hot- 
headed. Also  he  was  hot-footed,  for  he  discovered 
that,  by  walking  fast,  the  contact  with  the  fresh 
morning  air  drew  the  heat  from  his  body  and  made 
him  feel  much  more  comfortable. 

One  virtue  lent  by  the  Great  Elixir  was  knowl- 
edge, and  while  John  Dough  felt  that  he  possessed 
unlimited  knowledge  (having  had  an  overdose  of 
the  Elixir"),  he  could  not  very  well  apply  it  to  his 
surroundings  because  he  lacked  experience  with  the 
world,  which  alone  renders  knowledge  of  any  value 
to  mankind.  John  Dough  could  speak  all  lan- 

41 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 


guages  —  modern  and  classic.  He  had  a  logical  and 
clear  mind — what  is  called  a  "level  head,"  you 
know;  and  this  was  coupled  with  good  sense,  fair 
judgment,  and  a  tangled  mass  of  wisdom  that  had 
been  dumped  into  him  in  a  haphazard  fashion. 

But  these  rare  qualities 
were  as  yet  of  no  use  to 
our  man  because  he  had 
acquired  no  experience. 
It  was  like  putting  tools 
into  a  scholar's  hands 
and  asking  him  to  make 
a  watch.  John  Dough 
might  accomplish  won- 
ders in  time,  if  he  did 
not  grow  stale  and  crum- 
ble; but  just  now  he  was 
the  freshest  individual 
that  ever  came  out  of  a 
bake-room. 

It  was  still  early  morn- 
ing, and  most  folks,  were  in  bed.  A  prowling  dog 
smelled  the  gingerbread  and  came  trotting  up  with 
the  intention  of  having  a  bite  of  it;  but  John 
Dough  raised  his  candy  cane  and  hit  the  dog  a  clip 
on  the  end  of  its  nose  that  sent  the  animal  in 

42 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 


another  direction  with  its  tail  between  its  legs. 
Then,  whistling  merrily,  the  gingerbread  man  walked 
on.  He  knew  no  tune  whatever,  but  he  could 
whistle,  and  so  he  managed  to  express  an  erratic 
mixture  of  notes  that  would  have  made  Herr 
Wagner  very  proud.  I 

His  flesh  (or  bread,  rather")  was  cooling  off 
beautifully  now.  He  was  growing  hard  and  crisp 
and  felt  much  more  substantial  than  at  first.  The 
baker  had  made  him  light  and  the  Elixir  had  made 
him  strong  and  vigorous.  A  great  future  lay  be- 
fore John  Dough,  if  no  accident  happened  to  him. 

Presently  some  one  said,  "  Hello ! '    John  stopped 
short,  for  in  front  of  him  stood  a  bright-eyed  boy 
with  a  piece  of  lighted  punk  in  one  hand  and  a  bunch 
of  firecrackers    in    the    other. 
It  was  Ned  Robbins,  who  had 
been  up  since  daybreak  cele- 
brating the  Glorious  Fourth. 

"You  skeered  me  at  first," 
said  the  boy,  with  a  look  of 
amazement  that  he  tried  to 
cover  with  a  laugh. 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  I'm 
sure,"  returned  John  Dough, 
politely. 

43 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 

"Been  to  a  masquerade?'  asked  Ned,  staring 
hard  at  the  gingerbread  man. 

"No,  indeed,"  replied  the  other.  "I  am  not 
disguised,  I  assure  you.  You  see  me  as  I  am." 

"G'wan!"  exclaimed  Ned.  But  he  could  smell 
the  gingerbread,  and  he  began  to  grow  frightened. 
So  he  touched  the  punk  to  the  fuse  of  his  biggest 
firecracker,  dropped  it  on  the  ground  at  the  feet  of 
John  Dough,  and  then  turned  and  scampered  up 
an  alley  as  fast  as  he  could  go. 

The  gingerbread  man  stood  still  and  looked  after 
Ned  until  the  cracker  suddenly  exploded  with  a 
bang  that  caused  John's  candy  teeth  to  chatter. 
His  whole  body  was  terribly  jarred  and  he  nearly 
fell  backward  in  the  shock  of  surprise.  Then  he, 
also,  started  to  run.  It  was  not  fear,  so  much  as 
ignorance  of  what  might  happen  next,  that  caused 
him  to  fly  from  the  spot;  but  he  ran  with  a  speed 
that  was  simply  wonderful,  considering  that  his  limbs 
were  of  gingerbread.  Truly,  that  Arabian  Elixir 
was  a  marvelous  thing! 

Bang!  He  had  run  plump  into  another  group  of 
boys,  knocking  two  of  them  over  before  they  could 
get  out  of  his  way.  His  silk  hat  was  jammed  over  his 
eyes  and  the  candy  cane  struck  the  wheel  of  a  toy 
cannon  and  broke  ofFa  good  two  inches  from  its  end. 

44 


THE    CRACKER    SUDDENLY    EXPLODED 


45 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 


As  he  pulled  off  his 
hat  he  heard  a  shout  and 
saw  the  boys  all  scram- 
bling for  the  broken  end 
of  the  candy  cane.  One 
of  them  grabbed  it  and 
ran  away,  and  the  others 
followed  in  a  mad  chase 
and  were  soon  out  of 
sight. 

John  Dough  looked 
after  them  wonderingly. 


46 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 

Then  he  drew  himself  up,  pulled  down  his  fine 
vest,  sighed  at  discovering  a  slight  crack  in  his 
shirt-front,  and  walked  slowly  along  the  street 
again.  His  first  experience  of  life  was  not  alto- 
gether pleasant. 

"Good  gracious!"  said  a  voice. 

He  paused,  and  saw  a  woman  leaning  over  a 
gate  beside  him  and  glaring  at  him  in  mingled  sur- 
prise and  terror.  She  held  a  broom  in  her  hand, 
for  she  had  been  sweeping  the  walk.  John  lifted 
his  hat  politely. 

"  Good  morning,  madam,"  said  he. 

"Why,  it's  really  alive!"  gasped  the  woman. 

"Is  a  live  person  so  very  unusual?"  asked  John, 
curiously. 

"Surely,  when  he's  made  of  cake!  "  answered  the 
woman,  still  staring  as  if  she  could  not  believe  her 
eyes. 

"Pardon  me;  I  am  not  cake,  but  gingerbread," 
he  answered,  in  a  rather  dignified  way. 

"It's  all  the  same,"  she  answered.  "You  haven't 
any  right  to  be  alive.  There's  no  excuse  for  it." 

"But  how  can  I  help  it?'  he  asked,  somewhat 
puzzled  by  this  remark. 

"Oh,  I  don't  suppose  it's  your  fault.  But  it  is  n't 
right,  you  know.  Who  made  you  ? ' 

47 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 

"Jules  Grogrande,  the  baker,"  he  said,  for  he 
had  read  the  name  over  the  door. 

"I  always  knew  there  was  something  wrong  with 
those  Frenchies,"  she  declared.  "Are  you  done?" 

Before  he  could  reply  she  had  drawn  a  large 
straw  from  the  broom  and  stuck  it  several  inches 
into  his  side. 

"Don't  do  that!'  he  cried,  indignantly,  as  she 
drew  out  the  bit  of  broom  again. 

"I  was  only  tryin'  you,"  she  remarked.  "You're 
done  to  a  turn,  and  ought  to  make  good  eating 
while  you're  fresh." 

John  gazed  at  her  in  horror. 

"Good  eating!'  he  cried;  "woman,  would  you 
murder  me?' 

"I  can't  say  it  would  be  exactly  murder,"  she 
replied,  looking  at  him  hungrily. 

"To  destroy  life  is  murder?"   he  said,  sternly. 

"But  to  destroy  gingerbread  isn't,"  she  rejoined. 
"And  I  can't  see  that  it's  cannibalism  to  eat  a  man 
if  he  happens  to  be  cake,  and  fresh  baked.  And 
that  frosting  looks  good.  Come  inside  while  I  get 
a  knifes" 

She  opened  the  gate  and  tried  to  grab  John 
Dough  by  an  arm.  But  he  gave  a  sudden  back- 
ward leap  and  then  sped  down  the  street  at  a  furi- 

48 


"COME    INSIDE    WHILE    I    GET    A    KNIFE" 


49 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 

ous  run,  looking  neither  to  right  nor  left  in  his 
eager  flight. 

Luckily,  he  was  not  in  the  center  of  the  town, 
but  near  the  outskirts,  and  the  houses  were  few 
and  scattered. 

By  and  by  he  saw  a  deserted  barn  near  the 
roadside.  The  door  was  half  open  and  sagged  on 
its  hinges,  so  it  could  not  be  closed. 

John  darted  into  the  barn  and  hid  behind  some 
hay  in  the  far  side.  He  was  thoroughly  frightened, 
and  believed  he  must  avoid  mingling  with  the 
people  of  the  town  if  he  would  escape  instant 
destruction. 

A  knife!  A  knife!  The  word  kept  ringing  in 
his  ears  and  filled  him  with  horror.  A  knife  could 
slice  him  into  pieces  easily.  He  imagined  himself 
sliced  and  lying  on  a  plate  ready  for  hungry  folks 
to  eat,  and  the  picture  made  him  groan  aloud. 

All  through  the  day  he  kept  securely  hidden 
behind  the  hay.  Toward  evening  he  decided  to 
revisit  the  bakery.  It  was  a  difficult-  task,  for  he 
had  passed  through  many  streets  and  lanes  without 
noticing  where  he  was  going,  and  it  grew  darker 
every  minute.  But  at  last,  just  as  he  was  beginning 
to  despair,  he  saw  a  dim  light  in  a  window  and  read 
over  the  door  the  sign:  "Jules  Grogrande,  Baker." 

50 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 


He  opened  the  door  so  softly  that  the  little  bell 
scarcely  tinkled.  But  no  one  would  have  heard  it 
had  it  rung  loudly,  for  there  was  a  confused  murmer 
of  fierce  voices  coming  from  the  little  room  Mad- 
ame usually  occupied. 

John  Dough  skipped 
behind  the  counter,  where 
he  could  see  into  the 
room  without  being  seen 
himself. 

Around  the  little  table 
stood  the  Arab,  Monsieur 
Jules,  and  Madame,  and 
they  were  all  staring 


angrily  into  each  other's 
faces. 

"But    the   flask!'     cried 
"Where  is  my  precious  flask?' 

"It  is  here,"  said  Madame,  reaching 
behing  the  mirror  and  drawing  forth 
something  that  glittered  in  the  lamp- 
light. 

"But  this  is  the  silver  flask  —  the 
cure  for  rheumatism,"  exclaimed  the  Arab.  "Where 

my    Golden     Flask — containing     the     priceless 


is 


Elixir  of  Life? 


51 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 

"I  must  have  made  a  mistake,"  said  Madame, 
honestly;  "for  my  eyes  are  so  queer  that  I  cannot 
tell  gold  from  silver.  Anyway,  the  contents  of  the 
other  flask  I  emptied  into  a  bowl  of  water,  and 
rubbed  my  limbs  with  it." 

The  Arab  shouted  a  despairing  cry  in  his  native 
tougue  and  then  glared  wildly  at  the  woman. 

"Was    it    the    brown    bowl,    Leontine?"    asked 
Monsieur  Jules,  trembling  with  excitement. 
"Yes,"  she  answered. 

"Where  is  it?  Where  is  it?"  demanded  the 
Arab,  in  a  hoarse  voice.  "The  precious  liquor  may 
yet  be  saved." 

"Too  late,  Monsieur,"  said  the  baker,  shaking 
his  head,  sadly.  "I  used  the  contents  of  the  bowl 
to  mix  the  dough  for  my  gingerbread  man." 

"A   gingerbread   man!      What   do   you    mean?' 
asked  Ali  Dubh. 

"I  baked  a  man  out  of  gingerbread  this  morning," 

said  Monsieur  Jules, 
"and  to  my  horror  he 
came  alive,  and  spoke  to 
me,  and  walked  out  of  the 
shop  while  he  was  still 
smoking  hot." 

"It  is  no  wonder,"  said 


the  Arab,  dolefully;  for  within  him  was  enough  of 
the  Great  Elixir  to  bring  a  dozen  men  to  life,  and 
give  them  strength  and  energy  for  many  years. 
Ah,  Monsieur  and  Madame,  think  of  what  your 
stupidity  has  cost  the  world!' 

"I  do  not  comprehend,"  said  Madame,  firmly, 
"how  the  world  has  ever  yet  been  benefited  by  the 
Great  Elixir,  which  you  and  your  selfish  country- 
men have  kept  for  centuries  corked  up  in  a  golden 
flask." 

"Bismillah!  "  shouted  the  Arab,  striking  himself 
fiercely  across  the  forehead  with  his  clinched  fist. 
"Cannot  you  understand,  you  stupid  one,  that  it 
was  mine — mine!  —  this  Wonderful  Water  of  Life? 
I  had  planned  to  use  it  myself — drop  by  drop  — 
that  I  might  live  forever." 

"I'm  sorry,"  said  Monsieur;  "but  it  is  your 
own  fault.  You  forced  my  wife  to  care  for  the 
flask,  and  you  would  not  let  her  tell  me  about  it. 
So,  through  your  own  stupidity,  I  used  it  in  the 
gingerbread  man." 

"Ah!'  said  Ali  Dubh,  an  eager  gleam  in  his 
eyes,  "where,  then,  is  that  same  gingerbread  man? 
If  I  can  find  him,  and  eat  him,  a  bit  at  a  time,  I 
shall  get  the  benefit  of  the  Great  Elixir  after  all! 
It  would  not  be  so  powerful,  perhaps,  as  in  its 

53 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 


natural  state;    but  it  would  enable  me  to  live  for 

many,  many  years!' 

John  Dough  heard  this  speech   with   a   thrill   of 

horror.      Also  he  now  began  to  understand  how  he 

happened  to  be  alive.    , 

"I  do  not  know  where  the  gingerbread  man  is," 

said    Monsieur.      "He    walked    out    of    my    shop 

while  he  was  quite  hot." 

"But  he   can  be  found,"  said  the  Arab.      "It  is 

impossible  for  a  gingerbread  man,  who  is  alive,  to 

escape    notice.      Come,    let  us    search     for   him    at 

once!      I  must  find  him  and  eat  him." 

He  fairly  dragged  Monsieur  and    Madame  from 

the    room    in    his    desperation,    and    John    Dough 

crouched  out  of  sight  behind  the  counter  until  he 

heard  them  pass  through 
the  door  and  their  foot- 
steps die  away  up  the 
street. 

The  talk  he  had 
overheard  made  the  gin- 
gerbread man  very  sad 
indeed.  The  bakery  was 
no  safe  home  for  him, 
after  all.  Evidently  it 
was  the  Arab's  intention 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 

to  find  him  and  insist  upon  eating  him;  and 
John  Dough  did  not  want  to  be  eaten  at  all. 

Therefore  his  enemies  must  not  find  him.  They 
were  no  safer  to  meet  with  than  the  awful  woman 
who  wanted  to  cut  him  into  slices;  and  he  was 
learning,  by  degrees,  that  all  men  were  dangerous 
enemies  to  him,  although  he  had  himself  the  form 
of  a  man. 

He  left  the  bakery  and  stole  out  into  the  street 
once  more,  walking  now  in  the  opposite  direction 
from  that  taken  by  the  Arab  and  the  Grograndes. 

As  he  hurried  along  he  met  with  few  people  on 
the  streets;  and  these,  in  the  dark,  paid  little 
attention  to  the  gingerbread  man;  so  gradually 
his  spirits  rose  and  his  confidence  in  his  future 
returned. 

By  and  by  he  heard  a  strange  popping  and 
hissing  coming  from  the  direction  of  the  square  in 
the  center  of  the  town,  and  then  he  saw  red  and 
green  lights  illuminating  the  houses,  and  fiery 
comets  go  sailing  into  the  sky  to  break  into  dozens 
of  beautiful  colored  stars. 

The  people  were  having  their  Fourth  of  July 
fireworks,  and  John  Dough  became  curious  to 
witness  the  display  from  near  by.  So,  forgetting 
his  fears,  he  ran  through  the  streets  until  he  came 

55 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 

to  a  big  crowd  of  people,  who  were  too  busy 
watching  the  fireworks  to  notice  that  a  gingerbread 
man  stood  beside  them. 

John  Dough  pressed  forward  until  he  was  quite 
in  the  front  row,  and  just  behind  the  men  who 
were  firing  the  rockets. 

For  a  time  he  watched  the  rush  of  the  colored 
fires  with  much  pleasure,  and  thoroughly  enjoyed 
the  sputtering  of  a  big  wheel  that  refused  to  go 
around,  merely  sending  out  weak  and  listless  spurts 
of  green  and  red  sparks,  as  is  the  manner  of  such 
wheels. 

But  now  the  event  of  the  evening  was  to  occur. 
Two  men  brought  out  an  enormous  rocket,  fully 
fifteen  feet  tall  and  filled  with  a  tremendous  charge 
of  powder.  This  they  leaned  against  a  wooden 
trough  that  stood  upright;  but  the  rocket  was  too 
tall  to  stay  in  place,  and  swayed  from  side  to  side 
awkwardly. 

"Here!  Hold  that  stick!'  cried  one  of  the 
men,  and  John  Dough  stepped  forward  and  grasped 
the  stick  of  the  big  rocket  firmly,  not  knowing 
there  w^s  any  danger  in  doing  so. 

Then  the  man  ran  to  get  a  piece  of  rope  to  tie 
the  rocket  in  place;  but  the  other  man,  being 
excited  and  thinking  the  rocket  was  ready  to  fire, 

56 


Jfr       ''* 

p* 

JOHN    DOUGH    IS   CARRIED    OFF    BY    THE    ROCKET   57 


John    Dough    Begins    His    Adventures 

touched    off  the   fuse  without   noticing   that  John 
Dough  was  clinging  fast  to  the  stick. 

There  was  a  sudden  shriek,  a  rush  of  fire,  and 
then  —  slowly  at  first,  but  with  ever -increasing 
speed  —  the  huge  rocket  mounted  far  into  the  sky, 
carrying  with  it  the  form  of  the  gingerbread  man ! 


58 


The  rocket  continued  to  send  out 
fiery  sparks  of  burning  powder  as  it 
plunged  higher  and  higher  into  the  black 
vault  of  the  heavens;  but  few  of  these 
came  in  contact  with  John  Dough,  who  clung 
to  the  far  side  of  the  stick  and  so  escaped  being 
seriously  damaged.  Also  the  rocket  curved,  and 
presently  sped  miles  away  over  land  and  sea, 
impelled  by  the  terrible  force  of  the  powder  it 
contained.  John  fully  expected  that  it  would 
burst  presently,  and  blow  him  to  bits  amid  a  cloud 
of  colored  stars.  But  the  giant  rocket  was  not 
made  in  the  same  way  as  the  other  and  smaller  ones 
that  had  been  fired,  the  intention  being  merely  to 
make  it  go  as  high  and  as  far  as  possible.  So  it 
finally  burned  itself  out;  but  so  great  was  the 
speed  it  had  attained  that  it  continued  to  fly  for 
many  minutes  after  the  last  spark  had  died  away. 

Then  the  rocket  began  to  take  a  downward 
course;  but  it  was  so  high  up,  by  that  time,  that 
the  stick  and  the  empty  shell  flew  onward  hour 

59 


C  h 


1    C 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


after  hour,  gradually  Hearing  the  ground,  until 
finally,  just  as  a  new  day  began  to  break,  the  huge 
stick,  with  John  Dough  still  holding  fast  to  its  end, 
fell  lightly  upon  an  island  washed  on  all  sides  by 
the  waves  of  a  mighty  sea. 

John  fell  on  a  soft  bush,  and  thence  bounded  to 
the  ground,  where  for  a  time  he  lay  quite  still  and 
tried  to  recover  his  thoughts. 

He  had  not  done  much  thinking,  it  seems,  while 
he  was  in  the  air.  The  rush  of  wind  past  his  ears 
had  dazed  him,  and  he  only  realized  he  must  cling 
fast  to  the  stick  and  await  what  might  happen. 
Indeed,  that  was  the  only  thing  to  be  done  in  such 
an  emergency. 

The  shock  of  the  fall  had  for  a  moment  dazed 

the  ginger- 
bread man ; 
and  as  he  lay 
upon  the 
ground  he 
heard  a  voice 


cr 


Y: 


"Get  off 
from  me!  Will 
you?  Get  off, 
I 


say. 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

John  rolled  over  and  sat  up,  and  then  another 
person  —  a  little  man  with  a  large  head  —  also  sat 
up  and  faced  him. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  it?''  asked  the  little 
man,  glaring  upon  John  Dough  angrily.  "Can't 
you  see  where  you're  falling?' 

"No,"  answered  John. 

It  was  growing  lighter  every  minute,  and  the 
gray  mists  of  morning  were  fading  away  before  the 
rising  sun.  John  looked  around  him  and  saw  he  was 
upon  a  broad,  sandy  beach  which  the  wraves  of  a  great 
sea  lapped  peacefully.  Behind  was  a  green  meadow, 
and  then  mountains  that  rose  high  into  the  air. 

"How  did  you  happen  to  be  where  I  fell?"  he 
asked,  turning  to  the  little  man  again. 

"I  always  sleep  on  the  sands,"  replied  the  other, 
wagging  his  head  solemnly.  "It's  my  fad.  Fresh 
air,  you  know.  I'm  called  the  < Fresh- Air  Fiend.' 
I  suppose  you  're  a  new  inhabitant.  You  seem 
rather  queer." 

"I'm  made  of  gingerbread,"  said  John. 

"Well,  that  certainly  is  unusual,  so  I  've  no  doubt 
you  will  be  warmly  welcomed  in  our  Island," 
replied  the  man. 

"But  where  am  I?"  asked  John,  looking  around 
again  with  a  puzzled  expression. 

61 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


"This  is  the  Isle  of  Phreex,"  answered  the  other, 
"and  it  is  inhabited  by  unusual  people.  I'm  one, 
and  you  're  another." 

He  made  such  a  droll  face  as  he  said  this  that 
the  gingerbread  man  could  not  resist  smiling,  but 
it  startled  him  to  hear  another  laugh  at  his  back  — 
a  sound  merry  and  sweet,  such  as  a  bird  trills.  He 
swung  around  quickly  and  saw  a  child  standing 
upon  the  sands, .  where  the  rays  of  the  sun  fell 
brightly  upon  its  little  form.  And  then  the  glass 
eyes  of  the  gingerbread  man  grew  big,  and  stood 
out  from  his  cake  face  in  a  way  that  fully  expressed 
his  astonishment. 

"It's  a  Vision!"  he  exclaimed. 

"No,  it's  the  Cherub — whom  we  call  Chick," 
answered  the  big-headed  man,  carelessly. 

The  child  had  fair  hair,  falling  in  fleecy  waves  to 
its  shoulders,  but  more  or  less  tangled  and  neglected. 
It  had  delicate  features,  rosy  cheeks,  and  round 
blue  eyes.  When  these  eyes  were  grave  —  which 
was  seldom  —  there  were  questions  in  them;  when 
they  smiled — which  was  often  —  sunbeams  rippled 
over  their  blue  surfaces.  For  clothing  the  child 
wore  garments  of  pure  white,  which  reached  from 
the  neck  to  the  ankles,  and  had  wide  flowing  sleeves 
and  legs,  like  those  of  a  youngster's  pajamas.  The 

62 


"  IT'S    THE    CHERUB" 


63 


C  h 


1    C 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


little  one's  head  and  feet  were  bare,  but  the  pink 
soles  were  protected  by  sandals  fastened  with  straps 
across  the  toes  and  ankles. 

"Good  morning,"  said  John,  again  smiling  and 
hoping  he  had  not  stared  too  rudely.  "It  gives 
me  great  pleasure  to  meet  you." 

"My  name's  Chick,"  replied  the  child,  laughing 
in   sweet  trills,  while    the    blue   eyes   regarded   the 
gingerbread  man  with  evident  wonder. 
"That's  a  funny  name,"  said  John. 
"Yes,    it    is    funny,"    the    child    agreed,    with  a 
friendly  nod.      "Chick  means  a  chicken,  you  know. 
But  I'm  not  a  chicken." 

"Of  course  not,"  returned  John.  "A  chicken 
is  covered  with  feathers.  And  you  are  not." 

At  this  Chick 
laughed  merrily,  and 
said,  as  if  it  were  the 
simplest  thing  in  the 
world:  "I'm  the  Incu- 
bator Baby,  you  know." 
"Dear  me,  I  hadn't 
the  least  idea  of  it," 
John  answered  gravely. 
"May  I  ask  what  an 
Incubator  Baby  is?" 


64 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

The  child  squatted  down  in  the  sand,  hugged  its 
chubby  knees,  and  uttered  peal  after  peal  of  joyous 
laughter. 

"How  funny!"  it  gurgled;  "how  funny  that  you 
don't  know  what  the  Incubator  Baby  is!  Really, 
you  must  be  fresh-baked!' 

"I  am,"  said  John,  feeling  rather  ashamed  to 
acknowledge  the  fact,  but  resolving  to  be  truthful. 

"Then,  of  course,  you  are  very  ignorant," 
remarked  the  Fresh-Air  Fiend,  rubbing  his  big  head 
complacently. 

"Oh,  as  for  that,"  said  John,  "I  acquired,  in 
course  of  manufacture,  a  vast  deal  of  ancient 
learning,  which  I  got  from  an  Arabian  Elixir  with 
which  the  baker  mixed  me.  I  am  well  posted  in 
all  events  down  to  the  last  century,  but  I  cannot 
recall  any  knowledge  of  an  Incubator  Baby." 

"No,  they're  a  recent  invention,"  declared  the 
big-headed  man,  patting  tenderly  the  child's  golden 
curls.  "Were  you,  by  any  chance,  at  the  Pan- 
American  Exposition?  Or  the  Lousiana  Purchase 
Exposition?" 

"No,"  answered  John.  "My  knowledge  was 
corked  up  about  then." 

"Well,"  continued  the  man,  "there  were  a  good 
many  Incubator  Babies  at  both  those  expositions, 

65 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

and  lots  of  people  saw  them.  But  Chick  is  the 
first  and  only  Original  Incubator  Baby,  and  so 
Chick  properly  belongs  in  the  Isle  of  Phreex." 

Chick  jumped  up,  made  a  stiff  bow,  and  with 
eyes  sparkling  with  mischief  exclaimed:  "I'm  six 
years  old  and  quite  strong  and  well." 

"Tut-tut,  Chick! "  remonstrated  the  big-headed 
man;  "it  was  more  than  two  years  ago  you  were 
taught  to  make  that  speech.  You  can't  be  always 
six  years  old,  you  know." 

The  little  sprite  enjoyed  the  joke  so  much  that 
John  was  forced  to  laugh  in  sympathy.  But  just 
then  a  thought  struck  him,  and  he  asked,  a  little 
nervously: 

"Do  you  like  gingerbread?' 

"I  don't  know,"  replied  Chick.  "Are  you 
gingerbread? ' 

"I  am,"  said  John,  bravely. 

"Then  I  like  gingerbread,"  the  child  declared; 
"for  you  smell  sweet  and  look  kind  and  gentle." 

John  didn't  know  whether  to  accept  this  as  a 
compliment  or  not.  He  was  sorry  to  learn  that 
he  smetted  sweet,  although  to  be  called  kind  and 
gentle  was  grateful  praise. 

"Some  folks,"  he  remarked,  timidly,  "have  an 
idea  they  like  to  eat  gingerbread." 

66 


Chick          the      Ch 


e  r  u 


"I  couldn't  eat  you,"  the  child  said,  seriously, 
"because,  being  the  Incubator  Baby,  I  have  to  be 
very  careful  of  my  diet.  You  might  not  agree 
with  me." 

"  I  'm  sure  I  couldn't  agree  with  any  one  who  ate 
me,"  John  declared.  "For,  although  as  yet  I  have 
had  no  experience  of  that  sort,  it  seems  to  me  a 
very  undesirable  fate." 

"Very  true,"  remarked  the  big-headed  man. 

"Let's  be  friends!'  exclaimed  Chick,  coming 
close  to  John  and  taking  his  soft  brown  hand  in  a 
firm  clasp.  "I'll  take  care  of  you." 

John  looked  down  at  the  merry  little  elf  in 
positive  wonder. 

"We'll  be  friends,  all  right,"  said  he;  "but  instead 
of  your  taking  care  of  me,  Chick,  I'll  take  care 
of  you." 

"Oh,  there  you  are  entirely  wrong,"  broke  in 
the  big-headed  man.  "Chick's  a  privileged  char- 
acter in  the  Isle  of  Phreex,  and  the  only  one  of  us 
who  dares  defy  our  awful  kinglet.  And  in  case 
of  danger — " 

"Danger!"  cried  John,  with  a  start.  "Is  there 
danger  here,  too? ' 

Chick's  laughter  rang  out  at  the  foolish  question, 
but  the  man  replied  seriously : 

67 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

"There  is  danger  everywhere,  to  those  who  are 
unusual,  and  especially  in  the  Isle  of  Phreex,  where 
we  are  at  the  mercy  of  a  horrid  kinglet.  But 
come;  we  must  go  and  report  your  arrival  to  that 
same  graceless  ruler,  or  we  shall  all  be  punished." 

"Very  well,"   said  John,  meekly. 

But  as  he  took  Chick's  hand  and  turned  to 
depart  the  Fresh-Air  Fiend  uttered  an  exclamation 
of  annoyance,  and  said: 

"Here's  bad  luck  already!  The  Failings  are 
coming  this  way." 

As  he  spoke  a  noise  of  shouting  and  chattering 
reached  their  ears,  and  presently  several  people 
came  around  a  corner  of  rock  and  stood  before 
John  and  his  newly  found  friends. 

"It's  the  Brotherhood  of  Failings,"  whispered 
the  big-headed  man.  "  Look  out  for  them,  or 
they'll  do  you  a  mischief." 

"Don't  worry;  I  '11  take  care  of  you,"  said  Chick, 
pressing  the  dough  hand. 

John  stared  at  the  new-comers,  and  they  returned 
the  compliment  by  staring  at  him.  A  queerer  lot 
of  folks  could  seldom  have  been  seen  together. 

"This  is  the  Blunderer,"  said  the  Fresh- Air  Fiend, 
indicating  a  short,  fat  man  who  was  clothed  in 
glittering  armor  and  bore  a  lance  over  his  shoulder. 

68 


THE    BROTHERHOOD    OF    FAILINGS 


69 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


The  Blunderer  acknowledged  the  introduction  by 
bowing.  "And  here  is  the  Thoughtless  One," 
continued  the  man,  pointing  to  a  tall,  lean  man 
who  was  clothed  in  chamois-leather  and  carried  a 
wide-mouthed  blunderbuss  under  his  arm. 

"Look  out  for  the  gun,"  said  Chick;  "he  never 
knows  whether  or  not  it  is  loaded." 

"And  here  are  the  Disagreeable,  and  the 
Unlucky,  and  the  Sorrowful,  and  the  Ugly,  and  the 
Awkward,"  continued  the  big-headed  man,  pointing 
put  each  Failing  in  turn.  "Their  peculiarities  you 
will  have  no  trouble  to  discover.  Indeed,  on  all 
the  Isle  of  Phreex,  there  is  no  one  more  unpleasant 
to  meet  with  than  this  same  lot  of  Failings." 

At  this  the  Brothers  all  bowed,  saying  at  the 
same  time: 

"We  are  proud  of  ourselves!' 

At  that  instant  the  Awkward  tripped  over  his 
own  toes  and  fell  against  the  Blunderer,  who 
tumbled  headlong  and  thrust  his  slim  lance  straight 
through  the  body  of  John  Dough. 

"Oh!"  cried  Chick,  greatly  horrified. 

"  I  told  you  so !  '  growled  the  Fresh- Air  Fiend, 
pulling  out  the  lance  hastily.  "  Tell  me,  John 
Dough,  are  you  dead,  or  are  you  just  dying?' 

"Neither    one,"     said   John,     ruefully     pushing 

70 


Chick          the      Ch 


e  r  u 


together  the  hole  that  the  lance  had  made;  "but  it 
doesn't  add  to  my  personal  appearance  to  be 
prodded  in  that  fashion.  I  'm  made  of  ginger- 
bread," he  explained,  turning  to  the  man  in  armor. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  !     I  really  beg  your  pardon! 
said   the    Blunderer,   greatly   distressed    at   what   he 
had  done,      "I  had  no  intention  of  hurting  you." 

"He  means  well,"  said  the  Incubator  Baby;  but 
that  doesn't  help  much." 

"He  won't  last  long  in  this  Island,"  grunted  the 
Bad -Tempered,  referring  to  John  Dough. 

"Being  made  of  gingerbread,  he  can't  be  expected 
to  last,"  remarked  the  Disagreeable,  smiling  in  a 
way  that  made  John  shudder. 

"He  shall  have  my  protection,"  said  the 
Blunderer.  "It's  the  least  I  can  do  to  make 
amends.  Here  —  put  on  this  armor!' 

He  hastily  began  stripping  off  the  plates  of  metal, 
and  placed  the  steel  helmet  over  the  head  of  the 
gingerbread  man. 

"No,  no!'  exclaimed  John.  "I  don't  want  to 
wear  all  that  hardware." 

"But  you  must!'  cried  the  Blunderer.  "It's 
the  only  way  you  can  escape  accident  in  this  awful 
Island." 

"That's    true    enough,"    agreed    the    big-headed 

71 


C  h 


1    C 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


man.      "I     advise    you     to    wear    the    armor,    my 
gingerbread  friend." 

So  John  submitted  to  being  dressed  in  the 
armor,  and  no  sooner  had  the  plates  been  strapped 
upon  him  than  the  wisdom  of  the  act  was  apparent. 
For  there  came  a  rush  and  whirl  of  sound,  and  sud- 
denly a  great  monster 
swept  over  the  sands  at  the 
very  spot  where  they  stood. 
It  sent  the  Brotherhood  of 
Failings  sprawling  in  every 
direction,  while  the  Incu- 
bator Baby  flew  to  the 
water's  edge,  and  John 
Dough's  armor-clad  body 
was  knocked  down  and 
pressed  into  the  soft  sand 
until  it  was  level  with  the 
surface. 

But  presently  Chick 
came  back  and  made  the  others  dig  him  out  and 
set  him  upon  his  feet  again,  and  then  it  was  seen 
that  no  one  had  been  seriously  injured. 

"What  was  it?''  asked  John,  gazing  in  amaze- 
ment at  the  place  where  the  monster  had  disap- 
peared in  the  distance. 

72 


Chick          the      Ch 


e  r  u 


"It's  the  one-wheeled  automobile,"  answered 
the  Sorrowful,  "and  unless  it  gets  smashed  mighty 
soon  the  Isle  of  Phreex  will  be  an  Isle  of  Cripples. 
I  don't  understand  why  they  license  the  thing/' 

"Why,  to  make  room  for  new  arrivals,  of  course," 
declared  the  Disagreeable.  "But  it  was  lucky  for 
the  Pudding  Man  that  he  happened  to  be  dressed 
in  steel." 

"I  am  not  pudding,  if  you  please,"  said  John, 
indignantly.  "I  beg  you  to  remember  that  I  am 
gingerbread." 

"It's  all  one,"  remarked  the  Thoughtless,  "your 
cake  is  dough,  anyhow." 

"Let  us  return  to  the  castle,"  the  Ugly  said. 
"Our  Kinglet  should  be  introduced  to  his  new 
subject." 

So  they  all  started  off  across  the  green,  Chick 
leading  the  gingerbread  man,  until  they  came  to 
a  path  leading  upward  through  the  rocks,  along 
which  they  began  to  ascend.  John  had  much  diffi- 
culty in  keeping  out  of  the  way  of  the  Awkward, 
who  tripped  and  stumbled  constantly,  while  the 
Blunderer  insisted  upon  taking  the  wrong  path, 
and  the  Bad-Tempered  stopped  twice  to  fight  with 
the  Disagreeable  and  the  Thoughtless.  At  last, 
however,  they  reached  the  top,  which  proved  to  be 

73 


C  h 


1    C 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


a  broad  plain  of  rock,  upon  which  stood  a  great 
castle  with  many  tall  spires  and  grim  towers  and 
glittering  minarets. 

While  they  paused  for  John  Dough  to  admire 
the  view,  and  that  they  all  might  get  breath,  a 
sharp  voice  said  near  them: 

"You're  late,  you  lot  of  Failings,  and  the 
Kinglet  will  scold." 

John  looked  around,  and  saw  perched  upon  a 
point  of  rock  beside  the  path  a  most  curious  look- 
ing creature. 

"Don't  stare!'  it  said,  with  a  laugh.  "/  don't, 
and  I  Ve  got  a  dozen  eyes  to  your  one.  Let  me 
introduce  myself.  I  'm  the  Prize  Potato  from  the 
Centerville  Fair." 

Indeed,  John  now  noticed  a  big  blue  ribbon 
twined  around  the  middle  of  the  potato,  and  on  the 
ribbon  was  printed  in  gold  letters:  "First  Prize." 

"Some  day  you'll  sprout," 
said  the  Disagreeable,  "and 
then  you  won't  have  so 
many  eyes." 

The  Prize  Potato  winked 
its  numerous  eyes,  one  after 
the  other,  in  a  droll  fashion, 
and  answered: 


74 


THE    CASTLE    OF    PHREEX 


75 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


"Some  day  you'll  meet  with  an  accident,  my 
dear  Failing;  but  when  you  're  planted  in  the 
ground  you  '11  not  sprout  at  all.  That 's  where 
I  'm  your  superior,  for  I  'm  perpetual.  Every  one 
of  my  eyes  is  good  for  a  half-peck  of  potatoes,  at 
least." 

"  Unless  you  're  boiled  with  your  jacket  on," 
remarked  the  Ugly,  with  a  sour  smile. 

"Come,  come!  Let  us  on,"  interrupted  the 
little  man  with  the  big  head.  "Our  Kinglet  doubt- 
less awaits  us." 

When  they  had  gone  a  few  steps  farther  the 
Incubator  Baby  paused  to  say:  "Some  one  is 
following  us,  and  it's  a  stranger." 

This  remark  caused  John  to  look  around,  and 
immediately  he  stopped  short  with  an  expression  of 
horror  upon  his  frosted  face.  For  there,  turning  the 
corner  of  the  rocky  path,  was  Ali  Dubh  the  Arab. 
The  fellow  at  once  uttered  a  yell  of  joy  and 
triumph,  and  drawing  his  gleaming  knife  he  rushed 
upon  John  Dough  with  great  eagerness. 

The  gingerbread  man  had  given  up  all  hope  of 
escape  and  stood  tremblingly  awaiting  his  foe  when, 
Chick  suddenly  grasped  the  Blunderer's  lance  and 
tripped  the  Arab  so  neatly  with  it  that  Ali  Dubh 
fell  his  full  length  upon  the  path  and  broke  his 

76 


knife-blade  into  a  dozen  pieces.  But  he  squirmed 
forward  and  was  about  to  bite  into  John's  leg  when 
the  big-headed  man  came  to  the  rescue  and  threw 
a  handful  of  pebbles  into  the  Arab's  open  mouth, 
and  so  prevented  him  from  doing  the  gingerbread 
man  any  damage. 

"He  seems  dangerous,"  remarked  the  Blunderer. 
"Let's  tie  him  up,  before  he  hurts  someone." 

So  while  the  Arab  was  coughing  the  pebbles  out 
of  his  mouth,  the  Brotherhood  of  Failings  bound 

77 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


his  hands  and  feet  with  strong  cords,  so  that  he 
could  not  move. 

"He's  mine!"  shouted  the  Arab,  as  soon  as  he 
could  speak.  "He  belongs  to  me.  I  claim  him 
for  my  own." 

"There's  no  harm  in  that,"  replied  the  Fresh-Air 
Fiend.  "But  one  of  the  laws  of  this  Isle  is  that  no 
person  shall  be  injured  by  any  one  except  the  king- 
let. And  every  one  here  must  obey  the  laws.  So, 
unless  you  promise  not  to  carve  or  to  eat  this  man 
of  gingerbread,  who  is  now  a  subject  of  our  king- 
let, we  must  lock  you  up  in  prison." 

"  I  '11  eat  him  as  soon  as  I  have  the  chance.  I 
have  a  right  to  do  so,"  cried  the  Arab. 

"You're  a  bad  man!"  said  Chick,  stamping  one 
small  foot  indignantly. 

"I'm  not,"  answered  Ali  Dubh;  "I'm  a  good 
man.  And  I  paid  Jules  Grogrande  fifty  cents  for 
this  gingerbread  imitation  of  a  man,  who  is  mixed 
with  my  own  magic  Elixir.  Also  I  paid  a  witch 
nine  dollars  to  transport  me  to  wherever  the  gin- 
gerbread man  might  be — which  is  right  here — that 
I  might  take  possession  of  my  own  property.  So 
I  've  got  him,  and  he's  paid  for,  and  he's  mine,  and 
I  claim  the  right  to  eat  him  whenever  I  please." 

"You'll    do    no    such    thing,"    declared    Chick. 

78 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

"Why,  John  Dough  is  alive,  and  no  one  has  a  right 
to  make  him  dead  and  then  eat  him  —  even  if  he  is 
paid  for! ' 

"Don't  worry,  my  Cherub,"    said  the  big-headed 

J  '  J  '  O 

man,  soothingly;    "we'll   go   at  once  and  lock  this 


Arab  in  a  strong  room  of  the  castle,  so  that  he 
can't  possibly  escape." 

Chick  smiled  sweetly  at  this  promise;  but  the 
Arab  scowled  and  said,  grimly: 

"Never  mind.      My  time  will  come.      Some  day 

79 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

I  shall  surely  eat  that  gingerbread  man,  in  spite  of 
this  Cherub  and  all  the  rest  of  you." 

This  defiance  made  the  Brotherhood  of  Failings 
and  the  big-headed  man  so  angry  that  they  at  once 
dragged  Ali  Dubh  away  to  the  castle,  and  John 
Dough  and  Chick  followed  after,  hand  in  hand, 
and  feeling  quite  safe. 

Presently  they  came  to  a  great  archway  that  led 
into  the  courtyard  of  the  castle.  Having  passed 
through  this  arch,  the  gingerbread  man  saw  groups 
of  the  most  astonishing  people,  who  were  busying 
themselves  over  extraordinary  tasks,  such  as  build- 
ing machines,  boiling  strange-smelling  chemicals  in 
queer  pots,  drawing  curious  designs,  and  like  occu- 
pations. A  sudden  crash  announced  that  the 
Blunderer  had  fallen  into  the  middle  of  a  delicate 
machine  and  smashed  it  into  bits.  Before  they 
could  pull  him  out  the  Unlucky  One  ran  against 
the  whirling  arm  of  a  windmill  and  was  tossed  half- 
way across  the  courtyard,  while  the  Awkward 
One  upset  a  boiling  kettle  and  set  every  one  to 
coughing  who  inhaled  the  odor  of  the  compound 
that  was  spilled  upon  the  ground. 

To  John's  surprise  no  one  seemed  much  worried 
over  these  accidents.  Even  the  victims  joined  in 
Chick's  merry  laughter,  and  those  of  the  Failings 

80 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


who  had  escaped  disaster  calmly  proceeded  to  lock 
up  the  Arab  in  a  cell  that  had  a  strong  iron  grating 
for  a  door,  and  fastened  with  a  huge  padlock. 

Afterward  they  all  entered  through  a  second 
arch  into  the  great  hall  of  the  castle. 

This  was  a  long,  wide  room  with  a  tiled  floor,  and 
walls  that  were  covered  with  many  trophies,  such  as 
armor,  spears,  battle-axes,  and  swords  of  ancient 
design. 

At  the  farther  end  was  a  raised  platform  upon 
which  stood  a  gorgeous  throne.  Back  of  the  throne 
was  an  electric  sign,  flashing  one  letter  at  a  time, 
and  reading:  "What  is  Home  without  a  Kinglet?' 
Over  the  throne  was  suspended  an  enormous  crown 
— big  enough  for  a  giant — which  sparkled  with 
gems.  Beside  the  throne  a  very  fat  man  sat  in  a 
chair  so  low  that  his  knees  nearly  touched  his  chin. 
He  wore  a  short  red  coat,  a  wide  white  vest,  and 
blue  knee-breeches,  and  all  were  embroidered  in 
gold.  The  fat  man's  eyes  were  closed  and  he 
seemed  asleep. 

Within  the  throne  sat  the  kinglet,  propped  upon 
purple  cushions,  so  that  he  would  fit  it  better.  For 
the  kinglet  was  a  small  boy  with  a  long,  freckled 
face,  blue  eyes,  a  pug  nose,  and  black  hair  banged 
across  his  forehead,  and  hanging  in  lank,  straight 

81 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

locks  far  down  over  his  shoulders.  He  wore  an 
ermine  cloak  lined  with  purple,  and  bore  in  his 
hand  a  sceptre  with  a  jewelled  ball  at  one  end, 
while  beyond  the  ball  projected  a  small  golden 
knob.  The  kinglet's  slim  legs  were  crossed  under 
him  like  those  of  a  Turk,  and  he  seemed  very  frail 
and  delicate. 

However,  when  the  Failings  and  the  Fresh- Air 
Fiend  and  Chick  and  John  Dough  entered,  the 
kinglet's  brow  was  puckered  into  a  frown,  and  his 
blue  eyes  fairly  flashed  fire. 

"Odds  Zooks!"  he  cried,  as  they  all  knelt  before 
the  throne,  "why  have  you  dared  to  wait  until 
this  hour  to  pay  me  your  devoirs?" 

Then  he  leaned  down  and  prodded  the  fat 
man  with  the  knob  of  his  sceptre,  so  that  the 
sleeper  started  and  opened  his  eyes.  "Is  that 
right,  Nebbie?  Is  'devoir'  a  kingly  word?'  he 
demanded. 

"Absolutely  kingly,  your  Majesty,"  said  the  fat 
man,  yawning.  "It  was  used  by  King  Arthur  and 
Richard  Coeur  de  Leon." 

"Very  well!"  said  the  kinglet,  proudly.  Then 
he  turned  again  to  the  kneeling  group  before  him. 
"Why  don't  you  answer  me?  "  he  exclaimed.  "Why 
are  you  so  late  in  paying  me  your  boudoirs?' 

82 


THE    KINGLET    AND    NEBBIE 


83 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


"Devoirs,  your  Majesty!'  said  the  fat  man, 
hastily. 

"I  said  < devoirs'!"  returned  the  kinglet,  turning 
upon  him  in  anger. 

"We  are  late  because  we  did  not  get  here 
sooner,"  said  the  Awkward;  "and  we  could  not 
get  here  sooner  because  we  were  late." 

"So!'  shrieked  his  Majesty,  with  blazing  eyes. 
"Now  by  my  halidom — "  he  paused  suddenly, 
and  turned  to  the  fat  man,  prodding  him  so  fiercely 
that  he  jumped  several  feet  into  the  air.  "Is 
'halidom'  the  right  word,  Nebbie?" 

"Sure,"  said  the  fat  man,  nodding  emphatically. 

"What  does  it  mean?"  asked  the  kinglet. 

"What  does  halidom  mean?" 

"Yes." 

"Why,  a  halidom  is  a  halidom,"  said  the  fat 
man,  thoughtfully;  "and  belongs  to  kings." 

"But  what  is  it?'  persisted  the  kinglet, 
impatiently. 

"It's  a  —  a — a  sort  of  a  royal  prerogative,  and 
is  usually  painted  red,"  returned  the  fat  man,  and 
immediately  resumed  his  seat  and  closed  his  eyes 
again. 

The  kinglet  sighed,  and  turned  anew  to  the 
Failings. 

84 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


"Let  me  see,"  he  remarked;    "where  was  I?" 

"You  were  by  your  halidom,  your  Majesty," 
suggested  the  Blunderer. 

"Oh,  yes."  Again  the  long  freckled  face  took 
on  a  frown.  "By  my  halidom,  churl  — "  He 
stopped  to  glance  at  the  fat  man. 

"Churl  is  all  right,"  mumbled  Nebbie,  without 
opening  his  eyes. 

"By  my  halidom,  churl,  you  shall  either  swallow 
my  sceptre  or  die  the  death!' 

"What  death?"    asked  the  Blunderer,  trembling. 

"The  one  that  makes  people  dead,"  replied  the 
kinglet,  sternly.  "Choose,  then,  varlet  — " 
("Varlet  is  good,"  said  Nebbie,  quickly,  to  avoid  a 
thrust)  "whether  to  swallow  my  sceptre  or  die  the 
death!" 

The  Blunderer  glanced  at  the  sceptre,  the 
jewelled  ball  of  which  was  nearly  as  large  as  his  head. 

"I'll  swallow  the  sceptre,"  he  said. 

"Good,"  cried  the  king,  and  held  it  toward  him. 

"But  not  now,"  added  the  Blunderer,  hastily; 
"I'll  take  my  time  about  it.  You  didn't  say  when, 
you  know." 

The  kinglet  turned  red  with  rage. 

"Now,  by  the  royal  Juggernaut  of  Jowl  — " 
he  began. 

85 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

"If  I  should  swallow  it  now,"  continued  the 
Blunderer,  calmly,  "you  would  cease  to  be  a 
kinglet;  for  a  kinglet  without  a  sceptre  is  nothing 
but  a  flibberjig." 

"What!'  shrieked  his  Majesty,  jabbing  the  fat 
man  furiously. 

"That's  right,"  declared  Nebbie,  groaning  and 
rubbing  his  fat  side  dolefully.  "A  kinglet  without 
a  sceptre  is  a  flibberjig,  and  I'll  be  black  and  blue 
by  to-morrow  morning!' 

"Well,"  said  his  Majesty,  after  considering  the 
matter,  "I  forbid  you,  Sir  Blunderer,  to  swallow 
my  sceptre  until  I  give  you  leave." 

Then  his  eye  fell  upon  John  Dough  and  Chick, 
who  were  standing  at  one  side  of  the  Failings, 
and  immediately  the  little  kinglet  looked  surprised, 
and  then  curious,  and  then  annoyed.  But  perhaps 
the  annoyed  look  was  because  Chick  laughed  in 
the  royal  face  in  a  way  that  was  certainly  disre- 
spectful, and  even  John  Dough  did  n't  look  at  all 
humble. 

"Here,  you  Chick;  behave  yourself,"  com- 
manded the  kinglet. 

"I  won't,"  said  Chick,  pouting  two  pretty  lips. 

"Well,  this  kingdom  existed  at  one  time  without 
an  Incubator  Baby,  and  I  believe  we  could  spare 

86 


C  h 


1    C 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


you    now.      I  '11    have    your    saucy   head    cut    off," 
declared  the  kinglet. 

"I  dare  you!"  said  Chick,  making  a  face. 

"There's  a  nice  child,  I  must  say!"  retorted  the 
kinglet,  scowling.  "But  what  can  we  expect  of  a 
baby  that  has  no  parents  and  no  proper  bringing-up? 
Bah!  I'm  ashamed  of  you,  Chick!' 

"Don't  you  dare  say 
anything  against  my  Incu- 
bator!' cried  Chick, 
angrily.  "I  guess  I 've  had 
as  good  bringing-up  as  you 
have,  you  disagreeable 

7      J  D 

kinglet,  you ! ' 

His  Majesty  was  at  first 
about  to  retort  with  equal 
anger;  but  he  suddenly 
changed  his  mind  and 
turned  to  John  Dough. 

"Who  are  you, 
stranger?'  he  asked. 
"And  why  are  you  wearing  the  Blunderer's  armor? '' 

So  much  disrespect  had  been  shown  this  kinglet 
by  his  subjects  that  John  was  about  to  reply  lightly 
to  these  questions;  but  to  his  surprise  Chick  grasped 
his  hand  and  whispered  to  him  to  make  a  low  bow 

87 


C  h 


i  c 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


and  to  be  very  careful  what  he  said.  So  the 
gingerbread  man  stepped  forward  and  addressed 
his  Majesty  with  great  ceremony. 

"Oh,  most  puissant  and  serene  kinglet!'  he 
began;  "I  am  called  John  Dough,  because  I  am 
made  of  gingerbread;  and  I  came  to  your  Isle 
because  I  could  not  help  it." 

The  kinglet  looked  upon  the  stranger  with  a 
kindly  expression. 

"<  Puissant  and  serene'!'  he  murmured.  "Evi- 
dently, John  Dough,  you  are  a  person  of  wit  and 
intelligence,  such  as  are  most  welcome  to  the  Isle 
of  Phreex.  Kneel  thou  at  my  feet." 

John    knelt,    as     commanded,    and    the    kinglet 

at  once  dealt  him  a 
sharp  blow  upon  the 
Blunderer's  helmet 
with  the  heavy  end 
of  the  royal  sceptre. 
It  dented  in  the  steel 
plate,  and  would 
have  crushed  the 
gingerbread  man's 
head  had  it  not  been 
so  well  protected 
by  the  helmet. 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


"I  dub  you  Knight  of  Phreex,"  said  his  Majesty. 
"Rise,  Sir  John  Dough — villain  no  longer,  but 
noble  and  favored  among  my  subjects!' 

John  stood  up  and  bowed,  although  he  was 
slightly  dazed  by  the  force  of  the  blow. 

"Long  live  the  gentle  Kinglet  of  Phreex/'  he 
managed  to  say.  And  Chick  clapped  two  chubby 
hands  with  glee,  and  whispered:  "Well  done,  my 
friend! ' 

"You  please  me,  Sir  John,"  remarked  the 
little  kinglet,  swelling  out  his  chest  complacently. 
"I  wish  all  the  people  of  Phreex  were  so  polite  and 
discerning."  Then  he  looked  around  and  inquired: 
"Where's  Sir  Austed  Alfrin,  the  Poet  Laureate?' 

Immediately  a  drapery  parted,  and  a  man  with  a 
pale,  thin  face  and  long  black  hair  entered  and 
saluted  his  Majesty  with  profound  respect.  The 
Poet  had  a  bandage  over  one  eye  and  hobbled  as 
if  lame  in  one  leg.  He  was  clothed  all  in  black, 
and  his  long  frock  coat  had  grease  spots  down  the 
front  of  it. 

"  Have  you  made  me  a  sonnet  to-day?  "  demanded 
the  little  kinglet. 

"Yes,  my  royal  Master,"  answered  the  Poet;  and, 
pompously  unrolling  a  scroll,  he  read  in  a  loud, 
falsetto  voice,  these  lines: 

89 


C  h 


i  c 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


b 


"  There  is  a  wise  Kinglet  of  Phreex, 
Whose  wit  is  so  great  that  it  leaks ; 

His  brain  is  n't  big, 

But  who  cares  a  fig 
While  wisdom  from  him  fairly  reeks  ? " 

"Now,  that's  not  so  bad,"  said  his  Majesty, 
reflectively.  "But  can't  you  make  it  a  little 
stronger,  Sir  Poet?' 

"  I  '11  try,"  replied  Austed  Alfrin ;  and  after  pencil- 
ling some  words  on  his  tablets  he  read  as  follows: 

"The  Goddess  of  Wisdom  felt  sad; 
And  when  asked  why  she  whimpered  so  bad, 
Said :  c  There  's  one,  it  is  true, 
Who  knows  more  than  7  do  — 
And  the  Kinglet  of  Phreex  is  the  lad ! '  " 

90 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


"Now  that/'  said  his  Majesty,  "strikes  me  as 
being  real  poetry.  How  does  it  strike  you,  Sir 
John  Dough? '' 

"It's  fairly  good,"  replied  the  gingerbread  man; 
"but  it  hardly  does  you  justice." 

"The  Poet  doesn't  dare  do  his  Majesty  justice," 
said  the  Disagreeable  Failing.  "If  he  did,  there 
would  soon  be  no  Poet." 

"There's  something  in  that,  too,"  said  the 
kinglet.  "But  now,  Sir  Austed,  write  me  a  sonnet 
on  my  new  subject,  Sir  John  Dough." 

The  Poet  sighed  and  began  writing  on  his  tablets; 
and  presently  he  read  this: 

"The  Kinglet  of  Phreex,  it  is  said, 
Has  a  Knight  made  of  stale  gingerbread ; 
We  could  eat  him,  but  yet 
The  dyspepsia  we  'd  get 
Would  soon  make  us  wish  we  were  dead." 

"That,"  said  John,  indignantly,  "is  rank  libel; 
and  if  your  Majesty  will  loan  me  your  sceptre,  I'll 
make  an  end  of  this  Poet  in  seven  seconds  by  the 
clock." 

"You  have  my  permission  to  make  mince-meat 
of  him,"  replied  the  kinglet,  cheerfully. 

"Mercy!  mercy,  my  lord!"  screamed  the  Poet, 
falling  upon  his  knees  before  John  and  hastily 

91 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


wiping  the  verse  off  his  tablets,  "give  me  one 
more  chance,  I  beg  of  you!' 

"Very  well,"  said  the  gingerbread  knight.  "But 
if  it's  no  better  than  the  last  you  shall  be  discharged. 
Is  it  not  so,  your  Majesty?' 

"Quite  so,"  laughed  the  kinglet. 

The  Poet  nervously  scribbled  another  set  of  lines, 
which  he  read  in  a  voice  that  trembled  with  fear: 

"The  Gingerbread  Man  is  so  sweet, 
To  eat  him  would  be  a  rare  treat; 
He  's  crisp  and  well  spiced, 
And  you  'd  find,  were  he  sliced, 
That  the  eggs  in  him  cannot  be  beat ! " 

"That's  better,"  said  John,  "but  I'm  not  sure 
about  the  eggs,  as  I  did  not  pay  much  attention 
when  I  was  mixed.  However,  this  sincere  tribute 
to  my  excellence  will  save  you  from  my  displeasure, 
and  you  may  go  free." 

The  Poet  did  not  wait  an  instant,  but  ran  from 
the  hall  as  fast  as  his  legs  would  carry  him. 

The  kinglet  now  dismissed  the  Failings,  who  left 
the  royal  presence  quarrelling  and  threatening  one 
another,  and  making  so  much  noise  and  uproar  that 
the  gingerbread  man  was  glad  to  see  them  go. 

"Aren't  they  nice?'1  asked  the  kinglet,  look- 
ing after  them.  "I'd  like  to  drown  them  all 
in  the  castle  moat,  like  kittens;  but  every  king, 

92 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

they    say,    has    his    Failings,    so    I    suppose    I    must 
keep  mine." 

He  sighed,  and  continued:  "But  what  did 
the  Poet's  sonnet  say  about  your  being  crisp 
and  well  spiced,  and  rather  good  eating  were  you 
sliced?" 

"Don't  pay  any  attention  to  that,  your  Majesty! ' 
said  John,  hastily. 

"But  why  not?''  persisted  the  kinglet.  "I 
declare,  Sir  John,  there 's  something  about  you 
that  makes  me  hungry  whenever  I  look  at  you. 
I  don't  remember  having  eaten  any  gingerbread 
since  I  was  a  boy — ahem!  —  I  mean  since  I  came 
to  rule  over  the  Isle  of  Phreex.  Ho  there,  my 
guards!  Fetch  me  a  knife!' 

John  was  now  trembling  with  terror;  but  Chick 
said  to  the  kinglet:  "Your  Majesty  forgets  that 
you  are  to  have  pancakes  and  maple-syrup  for 
tea.  What's  the  use  of  spoiling  your  appetite, 
when  you  know  the  gingerbread  man  will  keep 
good  for  weeks?'' 

"Are  you  sure?"  asked  the  kinglet,  anxiously. 
"Are  you  sure  he'll  keep?  Won't  he  get  stale?" 

"Of  course  not,"  answered  the  child.  "He's 
the  kind  of  gingerbread  that  always  keeps  good. 
And  you  must  n't  forget  he'll  be  a  credit  to  the 

93 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

Isle  of  Phreex;  for  whoever  saw  a  live  gingerbread 
man  before? ' 

"Nobody,"  declared  the  kinglet,  positively. 
"You're  right,  my  Cherub;  I'll  save  the  ginger- 
bread man  for  another  meal,  and  in  the  mean  time 
I  can  show  him  off  before  my  people.  We  pride 
ourselves,  Sir  John,  on  having  a  greater  variety 
of  queer  personages  than  any  other  kingdom  in 
existence." 

"Then  you  ought  to  be  careful  of  them,  and  not 
permit  them  to  be  eaten,"  said  John,  still  anxious. 
But  the  kinglet  did  not  seem  to  hear  him. 

"Pancakes  and  maple-syrup!'  muttered  his 
Majesty,  longingly.  "Dear  me,  Chick;  I  wish  tea 
were  ready  now." 

"So  do  I,"  said  Chick,  laughing;  for  John 
Dough  was  safe  from  being  eaten  just  then,  what- 
ever might  be  his  future  fate,  and  the  child  had 
saved  him  by  the  mention  of  the  cakes  and  syrup. 

But  now  a  sudden  hubbub  was  heard  at  the 
door,  and  in  rushed  a  number  of  the  royal  guard 
wheeling  a  big  platform  on  which  was  seated  a 
woman  so  exceedingly  fat  that  she  appeared  to  be 
much  wider  than  she  was  long. 

"Here!    what's  the  trouble  with  Bebe  Celeste?' 
asked  the  kinglet,  frowning. 

94 


BEBE    CELESTE 


95 


Chick,      the      Cherub 

"She  has  lost  two  ounces,  your  Majesty,"  puffed 
one  of  the  guards,  wiping  the  perspiration  from  his 
forehead  with  his  coat  sleeve. 

"Two  ounces! "  shouted  the  kinglet.  "Now,  by 
the  toga  of  Samson  —  by  the  way,  Nebbie,  did 
Samson  wear  a  toga?"  He  punched  the  fat  man 
so  severely  that  Nebbie  gave  a  roar  of  pain  before 
he  answered. 

"He  wore  several,  your  Majesty!' 

"Then,  by  the  several  togas  of  Samson,  Bebe 
Celeste,  how  dare  you  come  before  me  two  ounces 
shy?' 

"I  did  n't  come;  I  was  brought,"  said  the  fat 
woman,  in  a  wheezy  voice. 

"She  was  weighed  in  the  balance  and  found 
wanting,"  said  the  guardsman. 

"What  was  she  wanting?"  asked  the  kinglet. 

"Two  ounces,  your  Majesty." 

The  ruler  rubbed  his  pug  nose  with  one  finger, 
in  a  reflective  manner. 

"Bebe,"  said  he,  "you've  been  exercising  again. 
You're  trying  to  reduce!' 

The  "woman  began  to  cry.  "'T  ain't  my  fault, 
your  royal  giblet — " 

"Kinglet,  woman!'  said  the  fat  man,  without 
opening  his  eyes. 

96 


C  hie  k,      the      Cherub 

"Your  royal  kinglet,  I  didn't  mean  to  lose  a 
single  flutter  o'  flesh.  But  my  dog  Duo  got  to 
quarrelling  with  himself  and  I  got  exercised  in  my 
mind  —  " 

"Oh,  the  loss  is  In  your  mind,  is  it?"  interrupted 
the  King.  "I  would  n't  mind  the  loss  if  I  had 
not  forbidden  you  to  exercise  at  all,  even  in  your 
mind." 

"I  could  n't  help  it,  your  fudgesty  — " 

"Majesty,  woman!"  said  the  fat  man,  sleepily. 

"My  dog  Duo  got  to  quarrelling — " 

"Bring  us  the  dog,  varlets,  churls,  and  vassals!' 
screeched  the  kinglet,  in  his  shrill  voice. 

The  guards  stumbled  over  each  other  to  obey; 
and  presently  they  returned  leading  such  a  curious 
animal  that  John  Dough  stared  at  it  in  amazement. 

It  was  a  dog,  without  doubt;  or  rather,  it  was 
a  dog's  body  with  a  head  and  two  legs  at  either  end 
of  it.  So  that  when  one  end  walked  forward  the 
other  end  had  to  walk  backward,  and  that  made 
the  back  end  growl  angrily.  But  the  same  end  was 
not  always  the  back  end  of  the  dog;  for  first  one 
head,  and  then  the  other,  would  prove  strongest, 
and  drag  the  curious  animal  forward. 

When  this  double  dog,  which  was  named  Duo, 
was  brought  in,  both  heads  were  snarling  and 

97 


C  h 


i  c 


the      C  h 


e  r 


u  b 


barking  in  a  very  noisy  manner.  But  however 
much  enraged  they  were,  they  could  never  get 
together  to  do  one  another  mischief. 

"Be  silent!'  yelled  the  kinglet,  annoyed  at  the 
clamor. 

But  the  dog's  heads  paid  no  attention  to  the 
command. 

"Very  well,"  said  his  Majesty;  "I'll  put  a  stop 
to  your  noise  for  good  and  all!  Here,  you  guards, 
fetch  me  the  Royal  Executioner!' 

The  fat  lady  began  crying  anew  at  this,  and 
presently  the  door  opened  and  a  young  girl  entered 
the  hall.  She  was  clothed  in  simple  robes  of  pure 

98 


C  h 


1    C 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


white,  over  which  her  loose  brown  hair  flowed  in  a 
soft  cloud.  Her  eyes  were  large  and  dark  and 
very  gentle  in  expression,  and  her  cheeks  were  fair 
as  a  lily.  In  one  hand  the  maid  bore  a  long 
sword,  the  naked  blade  of  which  shone  brightly  in 
the  light.  In  the  other  hand  was  a  sharpening- 
stone,  and  as  she  bowed  before  the  kinglet  she 
rubbed  the  stone  gently 
against  the  keen  edge  of 
the  blade. 

Although  the  dog's 
heads  were  still  quarrel- 
ling, and  Bebe  Celeste 
still  weeping,  it  was  upon 
John  Dough  that  the 
Royal  Executioner  first 
turned  her  eyes. 

"I  hope  it  is  n't  this 
one,  your  Majesty!  "  she 
said,  in  a  voice  of  dis- 
appointment; "for  he 
won't  bleed  at  all,  being 
made  of  cake." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon," 
exclaimed  John,  hastily, 
gingerbread." 


"  I    am    not    cake,    but 


99 


C  h 


1    C 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


"It's  just  the  same,"  she  answered,  sighing;  "you 
would  n't  bleed  if  I  cut  you  into  bits." 

"Why  are  you  so  bloodthirsty?'  asked  John, 
looking  reproachfully  into  the  girl's  gentle  eyes. 

"Because  I'm  the  Royal  Executioner,  I  suppose," 
she  answered.  "  I  've  held  the  office  ever  since  my 
father  was  destroyed  by  an  earthquake;  but  I've 
never  yet  executed  a  single  person.  The  kinglet 
calls  me  in  about  a  dozen  times  a  day,  but  some- 
thing always  happens  to  rob  me  of  my  victim. 
I  've  worn  out  three  sword  blades,  sharpening  them, 
but  I've  never  carved  anything  yet!' 

"Be  of  good  cheer,"  said  his  Majesty,  "for  now 
you  shall  see  blood  flow  like  water.  This  time 
I  am  fully  resolved  to  be  terrible.  Cut  me  this 
snarling  cur  into  two  parts!' 

"What,  the  dog?"  asked  the  girl,  surprised.  And 
Bebe  began  to  scream  loudly;  and  the  fat  man  woke 

up  and  shook  his  head, 
and  Chick  patted  both 
heads  of  the  animal  ten- 
derly, and  a  guardsman 
cried  out:  "Oh,  no,  your 
Majesty! ' 

"And     why     not?' 
inquired  the  kinglet. 


103 


Chick         the      Ch 


e  r  u 


"Why,  this  is  the  most  valuable  creature  in  all 
your  dominions! "  said  the  guard.  "Do  you  desire 
to  rob  yourself  of  such  a  treasure,  your  Majesty?'' 

The  kinglet  hesitated,  and  then  jabbed  the  fat 
man  with  his  sceptre. 

"Is  it  so,  Nebbie?"  he  asked. 

"It  is  so,  my  Lord,"  answered  the  fat  man.  "If 
you  want  to  butcher  anything,  cut  up  a  few  of  the 
Royal  Guards,  or  mince  the  Failings,  or  carve 
Chick,  the  Cherub.  But  the  dog  Duo  is  one  of 
the  remarkable  features  of  your  kingdom,  and 
should  be  preserved  at  all  hazards.  Why,  he 's 
worth  more  than  Bebe  Celeste." 

"That  reminds  me  of  Bebe,"  said  the  kinglet, 
looking  at  the  fat  one  sternly.  "Take  her  away, 
guards,  and  stuff  her  with  mashed  potatoes  and 
pate  de  foi  gras.  If  she  does  n't  regain  those  two 
ounces  in  three  days,  she  '11  disgrace  my  kingdom, 
and  I  '11  turn  her  over  to  the  Royal  Executioner." 

So  the  guards  trundled  away  the  platform  on 
which  the  fat  lady  sat,  and  the  dog  Duo  followed, 
first  one  head  leading,  and  then  the  other.  And 
now  his  Majesty  threw  off  his  ermine  robe  and  laid 
down  the  sceptre  and  scrambled  out  of  the  throne. 

"The  royal  audience  is  ended  for  to-day,"  he 
said,  "and  now  I'll  go  and  see  if  those  cakes  and 

101 


C  h 


1    C 


the      C  h 


e  r  u 


maple-syrup  are  ready  for  tea.  And  see  here, 
you  Incubator  Baby,  look  after  Sir  John  Dough, 
and  mind  that  nobody  eats  him.  If  there's  one 
bite  gone  when  I  see  him  again  I'll  turn  you  over 
to  the  Royal  Executioner — and  then  there  won't 
be  any  Incubator  Baby." 


Then  his  Majesty  walked  away,  chuckling  to 
himself  in  a  very  disagreeable  manner.  At  once 
the  fat  Nebbie  rolled  out  of  his  low  seat  and  stood 
up,  yawning  and  stretching  out  his  arms. 

"  Our  kinglet  is  a  hard  master,"  said  he,  with  a 
sigh,  "and  I  really  wish  some  one  would  get  up  a 
revolution  and  dethrone  him.  He's  been  punching 
my  ribs  all  day  long,  and  I'll  be  black  and  blue  by 
to-morrow  morning." 

102 


C  h 


1    C 


the      C  h 


e  r  u  b 


"He's  cruel,"  said  Chick,  patting  the  fat  man's 
hand,  as  if  to  comfort  him. 

"Yet  he's  too  tender-hearted  to  suit  me,"  com- 
plained the  lovely  Executioner.  "  If  I  couid  only 
shed  a  single  drop  of  blood,  I'd  feel  that  I  am  of 
some  use  in  the  world." 

"How  dreadful!  "  cried  John,  with  a  shudder. 

"Oh,  not  at  all!'  said  the  girl.  "For  what's 
the  object  of  being  an  Executioner  if  one  can't 
execute  ? '  And  she  tucked  the  sword  under  her 
arm  and  took  out  her  handkerchief  and  went 
away  weeping  sorrowfully. 


103 


"Well,   did  n't   I    take   care  of  you   all   right?' 
laughed  the  Incubator  Baby,  leading  John  Dough 
from   the   throne-room  and   up    a    broad    flight    of 
marble  stairs. 

"Indeed  you  did,"  he  answered,  gratefully. 
"  Really,  my  dear  Chick,  I  believe  that  dreadful 
kinglet  would  have  eaten  me  but  for  you." 

"'Course  he  would,"  said  the  Cherub,  nodding 
gayly;  "and  won't  he  be  wild  when  he  finds  there 
are  no  pancakes  and  maple-syrup  for  tea  ? " 

John  stopped  short.  "Are  n't  there?"  he  asked. 
"Oh,  Chick!  I'm  afraid  he'll  punish  you  for 
deceiving  him." 

"  I  don't  mind,"  declared  the  child.  "  No  one  shall 
eat  a  friend  of  mine  that  I  've  given  my  promise  to 
take  care  of.  So  come  along,  John  Dough,  and 
don't  worry.  I  Ve  got  a  lovely  room  on  the  top 
floor  of  this  castle,  and  I  '11  share  it  with  you." 

104 


The     Freaks     of     Phree 


x 


So  John  mounted  more  marble  steps,  until  finally 
Chick  brought  him  to  a  handsome  apartment  on 
the  third  story. 

105 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

"  Here  we  are  !  "  cried  the  Baby.  "  Now,  make 
yourself  at  home,  John,  for  we  need  n't  fear  the 
kinglet  until  to-morrow  morning,  and  then  he  '11 
have  forgotten  that  I  fooled  him." 

Our  hero's  first  act  was  to  take  off  the 
Blunderer's  heavy  armor  and  pile  it  in  one  corner 
of  the  room.  When  free  from  the  weight  of  metal 
he  felt  more  like  himself  again,  and  walked  to  the 
window  to  view  the  scenery. 

"  It 's  a  pretty  place,  Chick,"  he  remarked. 

"  Oh,  the  Isle  is  all  right,"  answered  the  child. 
"  It 's  the  people  here  that  are  all  wrong,  as  you  '11 
soon  find  out.  Do  you  ever  eat,  John  Dough  ? '' 

"  Never,"  said  John. 

"  Then,  while  you  're  waiting  here,  I  '11  go  over 
to  the  dairy  and  get  my  milk  for  tea.  You  don't 
mind  if  I  leave  you  for  a  few  minutes,  do  you  ? ' 

"  Not  at  all,"  he  declared.  "  But  it  has  just 
started  to  rain,  outside;  you  '11  get  wet,  won't  you  ? " 

"  That 's  nothing,"  laughed  Chick.  "  I  won't 
melt." 

"It's  different  with  me,"  said  John,  sadly.  "If 
my  gingerbread  body  got  soaked  it  would  fall  to 
pieces." 

That  made  the  little  one  laugh  again,  and  it  ran 
merrily  from  the  room  and  left  John  Dough  alone 

106 


"HELLO,     NEIGHBOR" 


107 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

to  stare  out  of  the  window.     There  was  a  projecting 
cornice  overhead,  so  he  had  pushed  his  head  well 
out  to  observe  the  pretty  scenery,  when  suddenly 
he  heard  a  voice  say,  in  a  tone  of  astonishment: 
"Hello,  neighbor!' 

Turning  toward  the  left,  he  saw  sticking  out 
of  the  next  window  to  his  own  a  long  bald  head 
that  slanted  up  to  a  peak,  underneath  which 
appeared  a  little  withered  face  that  was  smiling  in 
a  most  friendly  manner- 
John  bowed  politely. 

"Well,  well,"  said  the  owner  of  the  bald  head. 
"Here's  another  curiosity  come  to  our  island! 
Wait  a  minute,  and  I  '11  run  in  and  make  your 
acquaintance."  So  presently  the  bald  head,  which 
was  perched  upon  the  body  of  a  little,  dried-up 
looking  man,  entered  John's  room  and  bowed 
politely. 

"I  'm  Sir  Pryse  Bocks,"  he  said,  "and  the  remark- 
able thing  about  me  is  that  I  'm  an  inventor,  and 
a  successful  one.  You,  I  perceive,  are  a  delica- 
tessen; a  friend  in  knead;  I  might  say,  a  Pan- 
American.  Ha,  ha ! ' 

"  Pleased  to  make  your  acquaintance,"  returned 
John,  bowing.  "  But  do  not  joke  about  my  person, 
Sir  Pryse.  I'm  proud  of  it." 

108 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

"I  respect  your  pride,  sir,"  said  the  other.  "It's 
bread  in  the  bone,  doubtless.  Ha,  ha!' 

John  looked  at  him  reproachfully,  and  the  little 
man  at  once  grew  grave. 

"This  island  is  full  of  inventors,"  said  he;  "but 
they  're  all  cranks,  and  don't  amount  to  anything 

—  except  me." 

"What  have  you  invented?"  asked  John. 
"  This !  "  said  the  other,  taking  a  little  tube  from 
his   pocket.      "You   will   notice  that  it  often  rains 

—  it's  raining  now,  if  you '11  look  outside.      And 
the  reason  it  rains  is  because  the  drops  of  water  fall 
to  the  earth  by  the  attraction  of  gravitation." 

"  I  suppose  so,"  said  John. 

"  Now,  what  do  people  usually  do  when  it  rains  ?  " 
asked  the  little  man. 

"  They  grumble,"  said  John. 

"Yes,  and  they  use  umbrellas — umbrellas,  mind 
you,  to  keep  themselves  dry ! ' 

"And  that  is  quite  sensible,"  declared  John. 

The  bald-headed  one  gave  a  scornful  laugh. 
"It's  ridiculous!"  he  said,  angrily.  "An  umbrella 
is  a  big,  clumsy  thing,  that  the  wind  jerks  out  of 
your  hand,  or  turns  inside  out;  and  it 's  a  nuisance 
to  carry  it  around;  and  people  always  borrow  it 
and  never  bring  it  back.  An  umbrella,  sir,  is  a 

109 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

humbug!  A  relic  of  the  Dark  Ages!  I've  done 
away  with  the  use  of  umbrellas  entirely,  by  means 
of  this  invention  — •  this  little  tube,  which  can  be 
carried  in  one's  pocket ! ' 

He  held  up  a  small  instrument  that  looked  like 
a  tin  whistle. 

"  How  curious ! '     said  John. 

"Isn't  it?  You  see,  within  this  tube  is  stored 
a  Power  of  Repulsion  that  overcomes  the  Attraction 
of  Gravitation,  and  sends  the  rain-drops  flying 
upward  again.  You  stick  the  tube  in  your  hat- 
band and  walk  out  boldly  into  the  rain.  Immedi- 
ately all  the  rain-drops  shoot  up  into  the  air,  and 
before  they  can  fall  again  you  have  passed  on!  It's 
always  dry  where  the  wearer  of  this  tube  goes,  for 
it  protects  him  perfectly.  And  when  it  stops  rain- 
ing, you  put  it  in  your  pocket  again  and  it 's  all 
ready  for  another  time.  Is  n't  it  great,  sir?  Is  n't 
it  wonderful  ?  Is  n't  the  inventor  of  this  tube  the 
greatest  man  in  the  world  ? ' 

"  I  'd  like  to  try  it,"  said  John,  "  for  no  one 
needs  protection  from  the  rain  more  than  I  do. 
Being  made  of  gingerbread,  it  would  ruin  me  to 
get  wet." 

"True,"  agreed  the  other.  "I'll  lend  you  the 
tube,  with  pleasure.  Stick  it  in  your  hat-band." 

110 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 


"I  have  no  hat,"  said  John;  and  then  he  re- 
membered that  he  had  left  both  the  baker's  hat 
and  his  candy  cane  lying  on  the  sands  where  he 
had  first  fallen. 

"Well,  carry  the  tube  in  your  hand,  then,"  said 
the  inventor.  "It  will  work  just  as  well  that  way, 
but  it's  not  so  convenient." 

So  John  took  the  tube;  and  having  thanked  the 
bald-headed  man  for  his  kindness,  he  left  the  room 
and  walked  down  the  stairs  and  through  the  big, 
empty  hall,  and  so  out  into  the  courtyard. 

The  rain  seemed  to 
have  driven  every  one 
in  doors,  for  not  a  per- 
son could  he  see. 

Holding  the  tube  up- 
right, he  boldly  walked 
into  the  rain;  and  it  gave 
him  great  pleasure  to 
notice  that  not  a  drop 
fell  near  him.  Indeed, 
by  looking  upward,  he 
could  see  the  falling 
drops  stop  short  and  then 
fly  toward  the  clouds; 
and  he  began  to  believe 


in 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

that  the  bald-headed  inventor  was  really  as  great 
a  man  as  he  claimed  to  be. 

After  descending  the  slippery  path  through  the 
rocks,  he  crossed  the  patch  of  green,  and  at  last 
reached  the  sandy  shore,  where  he  found  the  baker's 
hat,  soaked  through  by  the  rain.  As  he  lifted  it  he 
saw  the  crooked  handle  of  the  candy  cane  sticking 
out  of  the  sand,  and  drew  it  forth  to  find  it  in 
excellent  condition,  little  of  the  dampness  having 
reached  it. 

But  now,  as  John  Dough  began  to  retrace  his 
steps,  he  discovered  that  his  feet  were  soft  and 
swollen.  For  he  had  been  walking  on  the  damp 
ground  and  through  the  wet  grass;  and  although 
no  rain  had  fallen  upon  his  body,  his  feet  were 
getting  to  be  in  a  dangerous  condition,  and  the 
licorice  in  them  had  become  sticky.  After  he  had 
recrossed  the  grass  and  come  to  the  edge  of  the 
rocks  he  began  to  be  frightened,  for  bits  of  his  left 
heel  now  commenced  to  crumble  and  drop  in  the 
path;  and  when  he  tried  walking  on  his  flabby 
toes,  they  were  so  soggy  and  soft  that  he  knew 
they  would  not  last  very  long. 

While  he  paused,  bewildered,  another  calamity 
overtook  him.  For  the  tube  suddenly  lost  its 
power  of  repulsion  and  ceased  to  work,  and  the 

112 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

raindrops  began  to  pelt  his  unprotected  body  and 
sink  into  his  flesh.  He  looked  around  with  a 
groan  of  dismay,  and  discovered  a  round  hole,  or 
tunnel,  in  the  rock  near  by.  Staggering  toward 
this,  he  entered  the  tunnel  and  found  that  now  no 
rain  could  reach  him.  The  floor  was  smooth  and 
dry,  and  in  the  far  distance  he  saw  a  light  twinkling. 

Not  daring  to  walk  farther  upon  his  mushy  feet, 
John  got  down  on  his  hands  and  knees  and  began 
crawling  toward  the  farther  end  of  the  tunnel. 
He  made  slow  progress,  in  that  position;  but  soon 
he  heard  a  noise  of  machinery,  and  felt  the  warm 
air  of  a  furnace  coming  to  meet  him.  That  gave 
him  courage  to  proceed,  and  he  crawled  onward 
until  he  had  reached  a  large,  circular  chamber, 
where  a  tall  man  with  whiskers  that  resembled 
those  of  a  billy-goat  was  busily  working  among  a 
number  of  machines. 

"Hello!'  this  personage  exclaimed,  as  he  saw 
the  gingerbread  man.  "What  have  we  here?" 

The  voice  and  eyes  were  alike  kindly;  so  John 
told  the  man  his  story  and  asked  permission  to  dry 
his  feet  at  the  glowing  furnace. 

"  Make  yourself  at  home,"  said  the  man,  and 
turned  to  his  work  again. 

The   place   was   lighted    by   electricity,   and  was 

113 


Th 


r  e  a 


o 


f     P  h  r  e  e  x 


warm  and  comfortable.  John  put  his  feet  as  near 
to  the  furnace  as  he  dared,  and  soon  felt  the  heat 
drying  up  his  soaked  feet.  It  was  not  long,  indeed, 
before  his  entire  body  was  as  crisp  and  solid  as  ever; 
and  then  our  hero  stood  upon  his  feet  and  found 
that  th-e  damage  to  his  heel  would  not  interfere 
much  with  his  walking. 

"What  are  you  doing?"  he  asked  the  man. 

"Making  diamonds,"  replied  the  other,  calmly. 
"I  suppose  I  am  the  only  one  in  the  world  who  ever 

114 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

succeeded  in  making  real  diamonds;  but  people 
did  not  believe  in  me,  you  see,  so  they  sent  me 
to  the  Isle  of  Phreex.  Here  I  have  manufactured 
the  finest  diamonds  the  world  has  ever  known,  for 
no  one  interferes  with  my  work.  Look  at  these." 

He  threw  back  the  lid  of  a  large  tin  box,  and 
John  saw  that  it  was  full  to  the  brim  with  sparkling 
gems  of  a  clear  white  color. 

"  Take  some,"  said  the  man,  offering  him  a 
handful.  "  They  are  of  no  use  to  me  here,  because 
I  cannot  dispose  of  them.  But  I  have  the  satis- 
faction of  making  them,  just  the  same.  Help 
yourself!  ' 

"No,  thank  you,"  said  John.  "I  have  no  use  for 
diamonds,  any  more  than  you  have." 

"  But  the  time  may  come  when  riches  will  be 
a  great  help  to  you,"  said  the  man,  and  picking 
out  three  very  big  stones  he  began  pressing  them 
into  John  Dough's  gingerbread  body,  one  after  the 
other. 

"  There ! '  he  exclaimed.  "  They  are  now  safely 
concealed,  and  if  you  ever  need  them  you  can  dig 
them  out  and  sell  them.  Those  three  stones  would 
be  worth  several  thousand  dollars  if  you  ever  get 
into  the  world  again,  where  diamonds  are  valued." 

"You  are  very  generous,"  said  John. 

115 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

"Oh,  not  at  all,  I  assure  you!'  said  the  man, 
wagging  his  goatlike  beard  with  every  word  he 
spoke.  "  In  this  curious  island  there  is  no  value 
to  anything  whatever,  not  even  to  life.  All  I  can 
do  with  my  diamonds  here  is  to  stick  them  into 
the  kinglet's  crown  and  sceptre;  so  I'm  getting 
a  big  stock  of  them  laid  by.  Very  soon  I  shall 
begin  studding  the  roof  of  the  throne-room  with 
diamonds,  and  it  will  be  a  pretty  sight  to  see  them 
glittering  in  one  mass." 

"Well,  said  our  hero,  "if  it  has  stopped  raining, 
I  believe  I  '11  bid  you  good-by." 

"  Never  mind  the  rain,"  answered  the  man. 
"  Here  is  a  winding  staircase  that  leads  directly  up- 
ward into  the  castle.  If  you  go  that  way,  the  rain 
cannot  reach  you.  The  tunnel  through  which 
you  entered  is  only  used  for  ventilation." 

John  thanked  the  good-natured  diamond-maker 
and  started  to  climb  the  stairs.  There  were  a  good 
many  steps,  but  after  a  while  he  came  to  a  gallery 
of  the  castle,  and  had  little  difficulty  in  finding  the 
passage  that  led  to  his  own  room. 

As  he  walked  along  he  heard  the  sound  of  a 
piano,  and  paused  at  an  open  door  to  peer  within 
the  room,  for  he  imagined  some  one  was  pounding 
upon  the  keys  of  the  piano  with  a  sledge-hammer. 

116 


THE    MUSICIAN    THREW    HIMSELF    UPON    THE    PIANO 


117 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

But  immediately  a  fluffy-haired  man  looked  up 
and  saw  him,  and  the  next  instant  pounced  upon 
the  gingerbread  man  in  much  the  same  way  that 
a  cat  would  pounce  upon  a  rat,  and  seized  him 
fast,  drew  him  into  the  room,  and  closed  and 
locked  the  door. 

John  was  astonished,  but  the  fluffy-haired  musi- 
cian began  pacing  up  and  down  the  room,  swinging 
his  arms  and  shouting: 

"  I  have  it  I  I  have  it  at  last !  I  am  great !  I 
am  magnificent !  I  am  better  than  Vogner  him- 
self!' He  paused  to  glare  upon  John.  "Why 
don't  you  shout,  you  baked  idiot?  Why  don't 
you  weep  with  joy?'  he  cried.  "It  is  great,  I 
tell  you!  It  is  great!' 

"What  is  great?"  asked  John. 

"  The  symphonic  !  The  divine  symphonic,  you 
heartless  molasses-cake,  or  devil's  food,  or  whatever 
you  are!  And  I  composed  it  —  / — Tietjamus 
Toips !  I  am  greater  than  Vogner!' 

"  I  did  n't  hear  it,"  said  the  gingerbread  man. 

The  jnusician  threw  himself  upon  the  piano,  and 
produced  a  succession  of  such  remarkable  sounds 
that  John  was  surprised. 

"  Did  you  understand  it  ? "  demanded  the  fluffy- 
haired  one,  jumping  up  again. 

118 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

"No,"  said  John. 

"No!  Of  course  not!  No  one  can  understand 
it.  It  is  genius!  It  will  be  played  at  all  the  great 
concerts.  The  critics  will  write  columns  in  praise 
of  it.  Some  folks  can  understand  Vogner  a  little. 
No  one  can  understand  me  at  all !  I  am  wonder- 
ful !  I  am  superb  ! ' 

"Well,"  said  John,  "I'm  not  a  judge.  It 
seemed  to  me  like  awful  discord." 

The  musician  threw  himself  upon  his  knees  and 
burst  into  tears. 

"Thank    you,    my    friend! — my    dear    friend!' 
said  he,  between  the  sobs.      "Such  praise  gladdens 
my  heart  and  makes  me  very  happy !      Ah  !  glorious 
moment,   in    which    I    produce    music    that    is    not 
understood  and  sounds  like  discord ! ' 

John  left  the  musician  still  shedding  tears  of 
happiness,  and  walked  to  his  room. 

"The  people  of  this  island  are  certainly  peculiar," 
he  reflected;  "and  I  am  very  glad  indeed  that  I 
am  an  ordinary  gingerbread  man,  and  not  a  crank." 

He  found  the  bald-headed  inventor  of  the  power 
of  repulsion  awaiting  him  in  the  room. 

"Well,  how  did  the  tube  please  you?  Is  it 
not  wonderful?"  he  inquired. 

"It's   wonderful   enough    when    it   works,"    said 

119 


The     Freaks     of     Phreex 

John;  "but  it  suddenly  quit  working,  and  nearly 
ruined  me." 

"Ah,  the  power  became  exhausted,"  returned 
the  man,  calmly,  "But  that  is  nothing.  It  can 
be  easily  renewed." 

"However,"  John  remarked,  "I  think  that 
whenever  any  one  uses  your  tube  as  a  protection 
from  the  rain,  he  should  also  carry  an  umbrella  to 
use  in  case  of  accident." 

"  An  umbrella !  Bah  !  "  cried  the  inventor,  and 
left  the  room  in  a  rage,  slamming  the  door  behind 
him. 


120 


Presently  Chick  returned,  looking  bright  and 
happy  as  ever;  but  when  the  child  heard  the  tale 
of  John's  wanderings  in  the  rain  he  received  a 
sound  scolding  for  being  so  careless. 

"You  must  n't  pay  any  attention  to  the 
inventors,"  said  the  Cherub.  "This  Isle  is  full  of 
'em,  and  most  of  their  inventions  won't  work." 

"  I  've  discovered  that,"  said  John. 

"But  they're  good  fun,  if  you  don't  take  'em 
in  earnest,"  continued  the  Baby;  "and  as  it's  going 
to  rain  all  the  afternoon  I  '11  take  you  around  the 
castle  to  make  some  calls  on  some  of  the  cranks 
that  are  harmless. 

John  readily  agreed  to  this  proposal;  so  Chick 
took  his  hand  and  led  him  through  some  of  the 
wide  halls,  stopping  frequently  to  call  upon  the 
different  inventors  and  scientific  discoverers  who 
inhabited  the  various  rooms.  They  were  all  glad 
to  see  the  pretty  child  and  welcomed  John  Dough 
almost  as  cordially. 

121 


The     Lady     Executioner 

One  personage  presented  the  gingerbread  man 
with  a  smokeless  cigar  that  he  had  recently  invented. 
Another  wanted  him  to  listen  to  a  noisless  music- 
box,  and  was  delighted  when  John  declared  he 
could  hear  nothing  at  all.  A  third  wanted  him 
to  try  a  dish  of  hot  ice-cream  made  in  a  glowing 
freezer,  and  was  grieved  because  the  gingerbread 
man  was  constructed  in  such  a  way  that  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  eat. 

"  Really,"  said  John,  "  I  don't  see  the  use  of 
these  things." 

"Oh,  they're  not  useful  at  all,"  replied  Chick, 
laughing;  "but  these  folks  are  all  trying  to  do 
something  queer,  and  most  of  them  are  doing  it. 
Now  we  '11  climb  this  tower,  and  I  '11  show  you 
what  I  call  a  really  fine  invention." 

So  up  they  climbed  to  the  top  of  one  of  the 
turrets,  winding  round  and  round  a  narrow  staircase 
until  they  came  upon  a  broad  platform.  And  on 
this  platform  rested  a  queer  machine  that  somewhat 
resembled  a  bird,  for  it  had  two  great  wings  and 
a  big  body  that  glittered  as  brightly  as  if  it  were 
made  of  silver. 

While  they  stood  looking  at  this  odd  contriv- 
ance a  door  in  the  body  of  the  bird  opened  and  a 
young  man  stepped  out  and  greeted  them. 

122 


''THIS    IS    IMAR,"    SAID    CHICK 


123 


The     Lady     Executioner 

John  thought  him  quite  the  most  agreeable  per- 
son, in  looks  and  manner,  that  he  had  yet  met 
in  the  Isle  of  Phreex;  excepting,  of  course,  his 
friend  Chick.  The  young  man  had  a  sad  face,  but 
his  eyes  were  pleasant  and  intelligent  and  his  brow 
thoughtful.  In  a  few  polite  and  well-chosen  words 
he  welcomed  his  guests. 

"This  is  Imar,"  said  Chick,  introducing  John; 
"and  he  has  invented  a  real  flying-machine." 

"  One  that  will  fly  ? "  asked  John,  curiously. 

"  Of  course,"  said  the  Baby.  "  I  've  had  many 
a  ride  in  it — have  n't  I,  Imar?" 

"  To  be  sure,"  replied  the  young  man.  « I  have 
often  taken  Chick  to  ride  as  far  as  forty  yards  from 
the  tower.  If  it  did  not  rain,  just  now,  nothing 
would  give  me  more  pleasure  than  to  prove  to  you 
that  my  invention  will  work  perfectly." 

"  I  see  you  have  made  it  resemble  a  bird," 
remarked  John,  who  was  quite  interested  in  the 
machine. 

"Yes,"  said  the  dreamy  Imar,  "and  the  reason  I 
have  succeeded  in  my  invention  is  because  I  have 
kept  close  to  Nature's  own  design.  Every  muscle 
of  a  bird's  wings  is  duplicated  in  this  machine. 
But  instead  of  being  animated  by  life,  I  have  found 
it  necessary  to  employ  electric  batteries  and  motors. 

124 


The     Lady     Executioner 

Perhaps  the  bird  is  n't  exactly  as  good  as  a  real 
bird,  but  it  will  fly  all  right,  as  you  shall  see  when 
I  take  you  for  a  ride  in  it." 

He  then  allowed  John  to  enter  the  tiny  room  in 
the  body  of  the  bird,  which  was  just  big  enough 
to  allow  two  to  sit  close  together.  And  in  front 
of  the  seat  were  various  push-buttons  and  a  silver 
lever,  by  means  of  which  the  flight  of  the  machine 
was  controlled. 

"  It  is  very  simple,"  said  Imar,  proudly.  "  Even 
Chick  could  guide  the  machine,  if  properly  in- 
structed. The  only  fault  of  the  invention  is  that 
the  wings  are  too  light  to  be  strong,  and  that  is 
why  I  do  not  take  very  long  trips  in  it." 

"I  understand,"  answered  John.  "It's  quite 
a  distance  to  the  ground,  if  anything  happened  to 
break." 

"True,"  acknowledged  Imar,  sadly;  "and  I  do 
not  wish  to  break  my  neck  before  I  am  able  to 
make  a  bigger  and  better  machine." 

"That  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,"  said  John. 
Then  he  thanked  the  inventor  and  followed  Chick 
down  the  winding  stairs  and  through  the  halls  until 
they  again  reached  their  own  room,  where  they  sat 
and  talked  until  darkness  came  and  drove  the 
Incubator  Baby  to  its  snowy  couch.  As  for  the 

125 


The     Lady     Executioner 

gingerbread  man,  he  never  required  sleep  or  rest; 
so  he  sat  quietly  in  a  chair  and  thought  of  many 
things  until  a  new  day  dawned. 

By  morning  the  rain  had  ceased  and  the  sun 
arose  in  a  blue  sky  and  flooded  the  Isle  with  its 
warm  and  brilliant  rays.  The  Incubator  Baby  was 
so  happy  this  pleasant  day  that  it  fairly  danced 
away  to  get  its  regular  breakfast  of  milk  and 
oatmeal. 

But  John  Dough's  little  friend  was  back  at  his 
side  before  long,  and  together  they  went  hand  in 
hand  through  the  halls  of  the  castle  to  the  throne- 
room  of  the  kinglet. 

They  found  his  Majesty  already  seated  in  the 
throne,  with  the  fat  Nebbie  asleep  at  one  side  of 
him  and  the  girl  executioner  carefully  sharpening 
her  sword  on  the  other  side. 

"  This  is  my  busy  day,"  said  the  kinglet,  nodding 
graciously  to  Chick  and  the  gingerbread  man. 
"  There  are  too  many  useless  people  in  my  kingdom, 
and  I  'm  going  to  kill  off  some  of  them.  Sit  down 
and  watch  the  flash  of  the  executioner's  sword." 

Then-he  turned  to  his  guards  and  commanded: 

"  Bring  in  the  General." 

Immediately  they  ushered  before  the  kinglet  a 
soldierly  man  clothed  in  a  gorgeous  uniform.  His 

126 


The     Lady     E 


xecutioner 


head  was  erect  and  his  countenance  calm  and  set. 
The  eyes  seemed  dull  and  listless,  and  he  walked 
stiffly,  as  if  his  limbs  were  rheumatic. 

"Sire,  I  salute  you!'  the  General  exclaimed,  in 
a  hollow  voice.  "Why  am  I  brought  before  you 
as  a  prisoner — I,  the  hero  of  a  hundred  battles?" 

"You  are  accused  of  being  foolish,"  said  the 
kinglet,  with  a  broad  grin  upon  his  freckled  face. 

"Sire,  at  the  battle  of  Waterloo  — " 

"  Never  mind  the  battle  of  Waterloo/'  inter- 
rupted his  Majesty.  "I  am  told  you  are  scattered 
all  over  the  world, 
as  the  result  of  your 
foolishness." 

"  To  an  extent, 
Sire,  I  am  scattered. 
But  it  is  the  result 
of  bravery,  not  fool- 
ishness." He  un- 
strapped his  left  arm 
and  tossed  it  on  the 
floor  before  the 
throne.  "  I  lost  that 
at  Bull  Run,"  he 
said.  Then  he  un- 
hooked his  right  leg 


127 


The     Lady     Executioner 

and  cast  it  down.  " That,  Sire,  was  blown  off  at 
Sedan."  Then  he  suddenly  lifted  his  right  arm, 
seized  his  hair  firmly,  and  lifted  the  head  from  his 
shoulders.  "It  is  true  I  lost  my  head  at  Santiago," 
he  said,  "but  I  could  not  help  it." 

John  was  astonished.  The  old  general  seemed 
to  come  to  pieces  very  easily.  He  had  tucked  the 
head  under  his  right  elbow,  and  now  stood  before 
the  kinglet  on  one  foot,  presenting  a  remarkably 
strange  appearance. 

His  Majesty  seemed  interested. 

"What  is  your  head  made  of?"  he  asked. 

"Wax,  your  Majesty." 

"And  what  are  your  legs  made  of?"  continued 
the  kinglet. 

"One  is  cork,  Sire,  and  the  other — the  one  I 
am  now  standing  on — is  basswood." 

"And  your  arms?" 

"  Rubber,  my  kinglet." 

"You  may  go,  General.  There  is  no  doubt 
you  were  very  unwise  to  get  so  broken  up;  but 
there  is  nothing  left  for  the  Royal  Executioner 
to  do."^ 

The  girl  sighed  and  felt  the  edge  of  her  blade; 
and  the  old  general  replaced  his  head,  had  his 
leg  and  arm  again  strapped  to  his  body  by  the 

128 


The     Lady     Executioner 

guards,  and  hobbled  away  after  making  a  low  bow 
before  the  throne. 

Just  then  a  great  noise  of  quarrelling  and  fight- 
ing was  heard  near  the  doorway,  and  while  all  eyes 
were  turned  toward  the  sound,  a  wooden  Indian 


sprang  into  the  hall,  waving  a  wooden  tomahawk 
over  his  head,  and  uttering  terrible  war-whoops. 

Following  him  came  a  number  of  the  Brother- 
hood   of   Failings,    trying    to    capture    the    Indian. 

129 


The     Lady     Executioner 

The  Awkward  tripped  up  and  fell  flat  on  his  face; 
the  Unlucky  got  in  the  way  of  the  tomahawk  and 
received  a  crack  on  the  head  that  laid  him  low; 
the  Blunderer  was  kicked  on  the  shin  so  violently 
that  he  howled  and  limped  away  to  a  safe  distance. 
But  just  before  the  throne  the  Disagreeable,  the 
Bad-Tempered,  and  the  Ugly  managed  to  throw  a 
rope  about  the  Indian's  arms  and  bind  them  fast  to 
his  body,  so  that  he  ceased  to  struggle. 

"What's  the  trouble?"  asked  the  kinglet. 

"Sir,"  said  the  Indian,  proudly;  "once  I  had 
the  honor  to  be  a  beautiful  sign  in  front  of  a  cigar 
store,  and  now  these  miserable  Failings  dare  to 
insult  me." 

"  He  claims  his  name  is  Wart-on-the-Nose," 
answered  the  Disagreeable,  "and  any  one  can  see 
there  is  no  wart  at  all  on  his  nose." 

"  So  we  decided  to  fight  him,"  added  the  Ugly. 

"  And  he  dared  to  resist,"  said  the  Bad-Tempered. 

"I  am  a  great  chief,"  the  Indian  declared,  scowl- 
ing fiercely.  "  I  am  made  of  oak,  and  my  paint  is 
the  best  ready-mixed  that  can  be  purchased ! ' 

"  But  why  do  you  claim  your  name  is  Wart-on- 
the-Nose  ? "  asked  the  kinglet. 

"  I  have  a  right  to  call  myself  what  I  please," 
answered  the  Indian,  sulkily.  "Are  not  white  girls 

130 


The     Lady     Executioner 

called  Rose  and  Violet  when  they  have  not  that 
color?  John  Brown  was  white  and  Mary  Green 
was  white.  If  the  white  people  deceive  us  about 
their  names,  I  also  have  a  right  to  deceive." 

"Now,  by  my  —  my  —  my  — "  The  kinglet 
jabbed  the  fat  man  with  his  sceptre. 

"  Halidom !  "  yelled  Nebbie,  with  a  jump. 

"  By  my  halidom !  '  said  the  kinglet,  "  I  will 
allow  no  one  in  my  kingdom  to  tell  an  untruth. 
There  being  no  wart  on  your  nose,  you  must  die 
the  death  !  Executioner,  do  your  duty  ! ' 

The  Failings  tripped  up  the  Indian  so  that  he 
fell  upon  his  face,  and  then  the  girl  advanced 
solemnly  with  her  sword. 

Three  times  she  swung  the  glittering  blade 
around  her  head,  and  then  she  glanced  at  the 
kinglet  and  said: 

"Well!" 

"Well,  what?"  asked  his  Majesty. 

"  Is  n't  it  time  to  change  your  mind  ? " 

"  I  'm  not  going  to  change  my  mind  in  this 
case,"  said  the  kinglet.  "  Chop  off  his  head  ! ' 

At  this  the  girl  screamed  and  drew  back. 

"  Do  you  really  mean  it  ?  " 

"  Of  course." 

"Oh,   your   Majesty,   I    couldn't  hurt   the   poor 

131 


The     Lady     Executioner 

thing!'  sobbed  the  Executioner.  "It  would  be 
simply  awful !  Please  change  your  mind,  as  you 
always  have  done." 

"I  won't,"  said  the  kinglet,  sternly.  "You  do 
as  I  tell  you,  Maria  Simpson,  or  I  '11  have  you 
executed  next ! ' 

The  girl  hesitated.  Then  she  took  the  sword 
in  both  her  hands,  shut  her  eyes,  and  struck  down- 
ward with  all  her  might.  The  blade  fell  upon  the 
Indian's  neck  and  shivered  into  several  pieces. 

"He's  wood,  your  Majesty,"  said  the  Execu- 
tioner. "I  simply  cant  cut  his  head  off." 

"  Get  a  meat  cleaver !  "  cried  the  kinglet.  "  Do 
you  suppose  I  '11  allow  Wart-on-the-Nose  to  live 


The     Lady     Executioner 

when  he  has  n't  any  wart  on  his  nose  ?  Get  the 
cleaver  instantly !  ' 

So  the  girl  brought  a  big  meat  cleaver,  and 
lifting  it  high  in  the  air,  struck  the  Indian's  neck 
as  hard  as  she  could. 

The  cleaver  stuck  fast  in  the  wood ;  but  it 
did  n't  cut  far  enough  to  do  much  harm  to  the 
victim.  Indeed,  Wart-on-the-Nose  even  laughed, 
and  then  he  said : 

"There's  a  knot  in  that  neck  —  a  good  oak 
knot.  You  could  n't  chop  my  head  off  in  a 
thousand  years !  ' 

The  kinglet  was  annoyed. 

"  Pull  out  that  cleaver,"  he  commanded. 

The  girl  tried  to  obey,  but  the  cleaver  stuck 
fast.  Then  the  Failings  tried,  one  after  another; 
but  it  would  n't  budge. 

"  Never  mind,  leave  it  there,"  said  the  Indian, 
rolling  over  and  then  getting  upon  his  feet.  "It 
won't  bother  me  in  the  least.  In  fact,  it  will 
make  a  curious  ornament." 

"  Look  here,  Sir  John  Dough,"  said  the  kinglet, 
turning  to  the  gingerbread  man;  "what  am  I 
going  to  do  ?  I  Ve  said  the  Indian  must  die, 
because  he  has  no  wart  on  his  nose.  And  I  find 
I  can't  kill  him.  Now,  you  must  either  tell  me 

133 


The     Lady     Executioner 

how  to  get  out  of  this  scrape  or  I'll  cut  your  head 
off!  And  it  won't  be  as  hard  to  cut  gingerbread 
as  it  is  wood,  I  promise  you." 

This  speech  rather  frightened  John,  for  he  knew 
he  was  in  great  danger.  But  after  thinking  a 
moment  he  replied: 

"Why,  it  seems  to  me  very  easy  to  get  out  of 
the  difficulty,  your  Majesty.  The  Indian's  only 
offense  is  that  he  has  no  wart  on  his  nose." 

"But  that  is  a  great  offense!"  cried  the  kinglet. 
"Well,  let  us  whittle  a  wart  on  his  nose,"  said 
John,  "and  then  all  will  be  well." 

The  kinglet  looked  at  him  in  astonishment. 
"Can  that  be  done?"  he  asked. 
"Certainly,  your  Majesty.      It  is  only  necessary 
to  carve  away  some  of  the  wood  of  his  nose,  and 
leave  a  wart." 

"  I  '11  do  it!"  shouted  the  kinglet,  in  great  delight. 

And  he  at  once  sent  for 
the  Royal  Carpenter  and 
had  the  man  whittle  the 
Indian's  nose  until  a 
beautiful  wart  showed 
plainly  on  the  very  end. 
"Good!"  said  the 
King. 


134 


The     Lady     Executioner 

"Good!'  echoed  the  Indian,  proudly.  "Now 
none  of  those  miserable  Failings  dare  say  my  name 
is  not  suitable  ! ' 

"  I  'm  very  sorry  about  that  cleaver,"  remarked 
the  kinglet.  "You'll  have  to  carry  it  around 
wherever  you  go." 

"  That 's  all  right.  I  '11  add  to  my  name  and 
call  myself  Wart-on-the-Nose-and-Cleaver-in-the- 
Neck.  That  will  be  a  fine  Indian  name,  and  no 
one  can  prove  it  is  not  correct." 

Saying  this,  the  wooden  Indian  bowed  to  the 
kinglet,  gave  a  furious  war-whoop,  and  stalked  stiffly 
from  the  room. 

"Bring  on  the  next  prisoner!'  shouted  the 
kinglet,  and  both  Chick  and  John  gave  a  gasp  of 
surprise  as  Imar  was  brought  into  the  room.  The 
inventor  of  the  flying-machine,  however,  did  not 
seem  the  least  bit  frightened,  and  bowed  calmly 
before  the  throne. 

"What's  the  charge  against  this  man?"  inquired 
the  kinglet. 

"He's  accused  of  being  a  successful  inventor,"  said 
one  of  the  guards.  The  other  inventors  claim  no  one 
who  succeeds  has  a  right  to  live  in  the  Isle  of  Phreex." 

"Quite  correct,"  replied  his  Majesty.  "Cut  ofF 
his  head,  Maria." 

135 


The     Lady     Executioner 

"Alas,  Sire!  my  sword  is  broken!'  she  ex- 
claimed. 

"Then  get  another/' 

"But  I  have  no  other  sword  that  is  sharpened," 
she  protested. 

"Then  sharpen  one!'  retorted  the  kinglet, 
frowning. 

"Certainly,  your  Majesty.  But  a  sword  cannot 
be  properly  sharpened  in  a  minute.  It  will  take 
until  to-morrow,  at  least,  to  get  it  ready." 

"Then,"  said  the  kinglet,  "I'll  postpone  the 
execution  until  to-morrow  morning  at  nine  o  'clock. 
"If  you're  not  ready  by  that  time  I'll  get  a  new 
Royal  Executioner  and  you  '11  lose  your  job." 

"I  shall  be  ready,"  said  the  girl,  and  walked 
away  arm  in  arm  with  the  sad  young  man,  on 
whom  she  smiled  sweetly. 

"It's  all  right,"  whispered  Chick  to  John. 
"Imar  won't  get  hurt,  for  the  kinglet  will  forget 
all  about  him  by  to-morrow." 

"And  now,  my  guards,"  said  his  Majesty,  stretch- 
ing his  arms  and  yawning,  "bring  hither  my  two- 
legged  horse,  that  I  may  take  a  ride  around  my 
kingdom." 

So  presently  the  guards  led  in  a  big,  raw-boned 
nag  that  had  two  legs  instead  of  four,  and  these 

136 


"NOW,    YOU    SIT    STILL    AND    BEHAVE    YOURSELF" 


137 


The     Lady     Executioner 

two  set  in  the  middle  of  its  body.  It  seemed  rather 
frisky  and  pranced  around  in  a  nervous  manner,  so 
that  the  kinglet  had  great  difficulty  in  mounting 
the  horse's  back,  whereon  was  a  saddle  made  of 
purple  velvet  and  cloth  of  gold. 

"Hold  still,  can't  you?"  cried  the  kinglet. 

"I  can;  but  I  won't,"  said  the  horse,  in  a  cross 
tone,  for  it  appeared  the  animal  was  able  to  talk. 

"I'll  thrash  you  soundly,  if  you  don't  behave!' 
screamed  the  kinglet. 

"I  '11  kick  you  in  the  ribs,  if  you  dare  to  threaten 
me ! '  returned  the  horse,  laying  back  its  ears. 
"Why,  you  miserable  little  freckle-faced  kinglet, 
I  could  run  away  with  you  and  break  your  neck, 
if  I  wanted  to  !  " 

"That's  true,"  said  his  Majesty,  meekly  "I  beg 
your  pardon  for  my  harsh  words.  Let  us  be 
friends,  by  all  means ! ' 

The  horse  snorted,  as  if  with  contempt,  and  the 
guards  finally  managed  to  hoist  the  little  kinglet 
to  his  seat  upon  the  animal's  back. 

"Throw  away  that  mace!"  cried  the  horse. 

His  Mayesty  obeyed,  at  once. 

"Now,"  said  the  animal,  "you  sit  still  and  behave 
yourself,  or  I  '11  dump  you  over  my  head.  Under- 
stand ? " 

138 


The     Lady     Executioner 

"  I  understand,"  said  the  kinglet. 

"  Very  good  !  "  declared  the  horse.  "  When  you  're 
on  your  throne  you  're  a  tyrant;  but  when  you're 
on  horseback  you  're  a  coward,  because  you  're  at 
my  mercy,  and  you  know  it.  Now,  we  are  off." 

The  beast  pranced  down  the  hall  and  out  of  the 
arched  entrance,  bearing  the  kinglet  upon  his  back; 
and  when  they  were  gone  John  and  Chick  started 
to  take  a  walk  along  the  beach  of  the  seashore. 

But  no  sooner  had  they  stepped  into  the  court- 
yard than  an  awful  yell  saluted  their  ears,  and  be- 
fore them  stood  the  form  of  the  terrible  Arab ! 


"He  must  have  broken 
loose !  v  cried  Chick.  "  Let  us 
run,  John  Dough,  before  he  can 
eat  you." 

At  once  John  turned  to  fly, 
with  Chick  grasping  his  hand  to 
urge  him  on.  Ali  Dubh  had 
indeed  succeeded  in  breaking 
through  the  iron  grating  of  his  prison,  and  had 
even  managed  to  untie  his  hands.  But  his 
legs  were  still  firmly  bound  together  from  his 
ankles  to  his  knees,  so  that  he  could  only  move 
toward  them  by  hopping. 

Nevertheless,  at  sight  of  the  gingerbread  man, 
who  was  mixed  with  his  precious  Elixir,  the  Arab 
began  bounding  toward  his  victim  with  long  hops, 
and  had  John  and  Chick  not  run  so  fast  as  they 
did  it  is  certain  the  Arab  would  soon  have  over- 
taken them.  Through  the  throne-room  they  fled, 
with  Ali  Dubh  just  behind  them,  and  then  they 

140 


The    Palace   of    Romance 

began  mounting  the  marble  stairways  to  the  upper 
stories  of  the  castle. 

Their  pursuer,  nothing  daunted  by  his  bound 
legs,  hopped  up  the  stairs  after  them  with  remark- 
able swiftness. 

"Hurry!'  cried  Chick;  "hurry,  John  Dough, 
or  you  '11  be  eaten." 

They  came  to  the  second  flight  of  stairs,  and 
still  the  Arab  followed. 

"We  are  lost,"  said  John,  in  despair.  "He'll 
surely  get  me  this  time." 

But  Chick  tugged  at  his  puffy  brown  hand  and 
hurried  him  on,  for  the  Incubator  Baby  at  that 
very  moment  thought  of  a  clever  way  to  save  the 
gingerbread  man.  Still  holding  John's  hand,  the 
child  ran  through  the  upper  passages  to  the  foot 
of  the  tower  of  Imar,  and  began  climbing  up 
the  steep  stairs  as  fast  as  possible.  Luckily  for  the 
fugitives,  these  stairs  to  the  tower  were  very 
difficult  for  Ali  Dubh  to  climb  by  hopping. 
When  he  was  half-way  up  he  lost  his  balance  and 
tumbled  down  again,  and  this  accident  gave  John 
and  Chick  time  to  enter  the  body  of  the  bird 
flying-machine,  which  still  lay  stretched  upon  the 
roof  of  the  tower. 

"  Quick !  "  shouted  the  child,   shutting  and  fast- 

141 


The    Palace   of    Romance 


ening   the   silver   door    behind    them.      "  Pull    over 
that  lever,  and  away  we  go ! ' 

"  Is  it  safe  ?  "  asked  John,  hesitating. 

"  Is  it  safe  to  be  eaten  ? "  inquired  Chick. 

John  quickly  grabbed  the  lever,  pulled  it  over, 
and  the  hugh  bird  fluttered  its  wings  once  or 
twice  and  rose  slowly  into  the  air.  It  sailed  away 
from  the  roof  just  as  the  Arab 
appeared  at  the  top  of  the  stairs. 

"Stop!':  screamed  Ali  Dubh. 
"You're  mine,  John  Dough. 
Come  back  and  be  eaten." 

"Don't  mind 
him,"     said    the 
Cherub,   peep- 
ing at  the  Arab 
through  a   little 
window 
bottom 
bird's 


in 
of 


the 
the 

body. 
"And  don't 
worry  about  this 
flying-machine, 
either.  Imar 
has  told  me  how 
to  run  it,  and  it 


HURRY,  JOHN  DOUGH,  OR  YOU'LL   BE  EATEN!" 


The    Palace   of    Romance 


will  carry  us  somewhere,  never  fear.      This  button 

that   I    pushed  is   to   start  it,   and   there's   another 

button  somewhere  to  stop  it." 
"Where?"  asked  John. 
"I  don't  remember.       But  never  mind  that;    we 

don't  want  to  stop  just  yet,  anyhow." 

John  stooped  to  look  through  the  little  win- 
dow, and  saw  spread 
out  beneath  him  the 
Isle  of  Phreex.  The 
Brotherhood  of  Fail- 
ings stood  upon  the 
shore  watching  the 
flight  of  the  machine, 
and  the  kinglet  was 
riding  along  calmly 
upon  his  two-legged 
horse  without  any 
idea  that  the  Incu- 
bator Baby  and  the 
gingerbread  man  were 

leaving  his  kingdom  for  good  and  all  and  he  would 

probably  never  see  them  again. 

The  great  bird  flew  steadily  westward,  and  Chick 

laughed    and    chatted,    and    seemed    to    enjoy    the 

journey    immensely.      They   were   flying   over   the 

144 


The   Palace   of    Romance 

ocean  now,  and  before  long  the  Isle  they  had  left 
became  a  mere  speck  upon  the  water. 

"Where  are  we  going?''  John  asked. 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  Chick. 

"What  land  lies  in  this  direction?" 

"  I  have  n't  the  faintest  idea,"  said  the  Baby. 

John  became  thoughtful. 

"How  long  will  this  machine  fly?"  he  inquired. 

"Who  knows?"  said  Chick.  "Imar  was  always 
afraid  to  go  very  far  from  the  island  with  it.  We  '11 
just  have  to  wait  and  find  out." 

This  was  not  very  encouraging,  but  it  was  too 
late  to  return  now,  the  Isle  of  Phreex  being  lost 
in  the  vastness  of  the  great  sea.  Moreover,  John 
reflected  that  he  would  be  in  greater  danger  there 
from  Ali  Dubh  than  in  riding  in  an  untried 
flying-machine.  The  only  thing  to  do  was  to 
continue  the  flight  through  the  air  until  they 
sighted  some  other  land — provided  the  machine 
did  not  suddenly  break  down.  It  seemed  to 
be  all  right  just  at  present,  and  John's  admiration 
of  Imar's  genius  in  constructing  it  grew  steadily 
as  the  bird  flopped  on  and  on  without  a  sign  of 
giving  out. 

Chick  was  n't  frightened,  that  was  certain.  The 
Baby  laughed  and  sang  little  songs,  and  seemed  as 

145 


The    Pa    ace   of    Romance 


happy  and  contented  as  when  upon  firm  land;  so 
John  gradually  forgot  his  fears.  The  sun  had  sank 
low  upon  the  horizon,  and  was  looking  for  a  good 
place  to  dive  into  the  sea,  when  the  voyagers 
discovered  something  far  ahead  of  them  that  glit- 
tered brightly  upon  the  water.  Neither  could 
determine  what  the  glitter  meant,  until  they  drew 
nearer  and  saw  a  small,  rocky  islet,  upon  which 
was  perched  an  enormous  palace  that  seemed  to 
be  made  of  pure  gold,  having  many  crystal  win- 
dows set  in  its  domes  and  sides. 

"It  is  certainly  a 
beautiful  place,"  said 
John.  "  Let  us  land 
upon  the  islet." 

"All  right,'  re- 
turned Chick. 
"  I  '11  see  if  I  can 
find  out  which 
button  stops  the 
thing." 

The  Baby  pushed 
one  of  the  buttons, 
and  at  once  the  bird 
shot  up  higher  into 
the  air. 


146 


The    Palace    of    Romance 

"That  isn't  it!"  cried  John,  in  sudden  alarm. 
Chick  pushed  another  button,  and  the  machine 
began  whirling  around  in  short  circles. 

"  Dear  me  !  "  said  John;  "what 's  going  to  happen 

^ » 
to  us  r 

Chick  laughed  and  pushed  another  button. 

"  One  of  'em  must  be  to  stop,"  declared  Chick, 
cheerfully;  "and  there's  only  two  more  left." 

The  bird  paused,  with  a  quick  trembling  of  its 
wings,  and  slowly  fluttered  downward. 

"Oh,  now  we're  all  right,"  gayly  announced  the 
queer  child,  "for  there's  only  one  button  left;  and 
when  I  push  it,  John  Dough,  you  must  pull  back 
the  silver  lever  and  steer  straight  for  the  golden 
palace." 

Down,  down  they  sank,  and  fortunately  the 
descent  was  made  to  the  flat  roof  of  a  wing  of  the 
palace.  When  they  had  almost  reached  it,  Chick, 
who  was  watching  the  roof  through  the  little  win- 
dow, pushed  the  last  button,  while  John  threw  over 
the  lever. 

Immediately  the  flying-machine  fell  with  a 
thump  that  made  the  gingerbread  man's  candy 
teeth  knock  together. 

"Wow!"  said  Chick.  "That  was  a  jolt  and  a 
half!  I  hope  nothing's  broken." 

147 


The   Palace   of    Romance 

"I  don't  believe  I  will  ever  ride  in  it  again," 
said  John,  smoothing  the  wrinkles  out  of  his  frosted 
shirt-front  and  pulling  the  baker's  hat  off  his  eyes, 
where  it  had  become  jammed.  "These  air-ships 
are  too  dangerous  to  suit  me." 

"Why,  the  bird  has  saved  your  life,  and  it 
may  save  it  again,"  said  Chick.  "  For  my  part,  I 
rather  like  flying  through  the  air.  You  never 
know  what 's  going  to  happen  next.  And  see 
how  lucky  we  are !  This  is  the  only  part  of 
the  palace  roof  that  is  flat,  and  we  struck  it 
to  a  dot.  If  we  'd  fallen  upon  one  of  those 
spikes" —  pointing  to  the  numerous  spires  and 
minarets —  "our  clocks  would  have  stopped  by 
this  time." 

"You  have  a  queer  way  of  expressing  yourself, 
my  friend,"  said  John,  looking  upon  the  child 
gravely.  "The  vast  knowledge  I  gained  by  means 
of  the  Elixir  taught  me  nothing  of  your  methods 
of  twisting  language." 

"That's  too  bad,"  answered  Chick.  "I  can't 
always  figure  out  what  you  mean  to  say;  but  you 
always  know  what  I  mean,  don't  you?' 

"Almost  always,"  John  acknowledged. 

"Then  don't  complain,"  said  the  Baby,  sweetly; 
and  the  gingerbread  man  looked  at  his  feet  with  a 

149 


CHICK    DISCOVERS    A    TRAP    DOOR 


149 


The   Palace   of    Romance 

puzzled  expression,  and  then  back  into  the  child's 
smiling  face,  and  sighed. 

By  this  time  they  had  climbed  out  of  the  bird's 
body  and  stood  upon  the  roof.  It  was  so  high 
above  the  rocks  that  it  made  John  dizzy  to  look 
down;  but  Chick  soon  discovered  a  trap-door  that 
led  downward  into  the  palace  by  means  of  a  tiny 
staircase.  They  descended  the  stairs,  and,  having 
pushed  aside  a  heavy  drapery  that  hung  across  a 
doorway,  came  upon  a  broad  passage  running 
through  the  upper  story  of  the  palace.  This  led 
to  still  another  passage,  and  still  another;  but 
although  they  turned  this  way  and  that  in  the  maze 
of  passages,  no  living  person  did  they  meet  with. 
The  tiled  floors  and  paneled  walls  were  very  beauti- 
ful and  splendid;  but  they  were  so  much  alike  that 
our  adventurers  completely  lost  their  way  before 
they  came  by  accident  to  a  broad  staircase  leading 
downward  to  the  next  story.  These  stairs  were 
covered  with  soft  carpeting  and  the  balusters  were 
of  filigree  gold.  Still  no  one  was  to  be  seen  either 
on  the  stairs  or  in  the  passages,  and  the  palace  was 
silent  as  could  be. 

They  found  another  staircase,  by  and  by,  and 
descended  to  the  main  floor  of  the  palace,  passing 
through  magnificent  parlors  and  galleries,  until 

150 


The    Palace   of    Romance 

finally  a  hum  of  pleasant  voices  reached  their 
ears. 

"I  feel  much  relieved,"  said  John,  "for  I  had 
begun  to  think  the  place  was  uninhabited." 

"Let  us  go  on,"  replied  Chick,  "and  see  who 
these  people  are." 

Turning  first  to  the  right  and  then  to  left,  and 
now  following  a  high-arched  marble  passage,  the 
adventurers  suddenly  found  themselves  before  heavy 
draperies  of  crimson  velvet,  from  beyond  which 
came  clearly  the  sounds  of  laughter  and  the  merry 
chattering  of  many  people. 

They  pushed  aside  the  draperies  and  entered  a 
splendid  domed  chamber  of  such  exquisite  beauty 
that  the  sight  made  even  Chick  pause  in  astonish- 
ment. 

All  around  the  sides  and  in  the  ceiling  were  set 
handsome  windows  made  of  bits  of  colored  glass, 
so  arranged  that  they  formed  very  pleasing  pictures. 
Between  the  windows  were  panels  of  wrought  gold 
having  many  brilliant  gems  set  in  the  metal.  The 
floor  was  covered  with  priceless  rugs  of  quaint 
patterns,  and  the  furniture  consisted  of  many  settees 
and  easy-chairs  designed  to  offbrd  the  highest  degree 
of  comfort. 

Fountains  of  perfumed  waters  sparkled  here  and 

151 


The    Palace   of    Romance 

there,  falling  into  golden  basins;  and  little  tables 
scattered  about  the  room  bore  trays  of  dainty 
refreshments. 

Seated   within    the  room   were    groups    of  ladies 
and  gentlemen,  all  clothed  in  gorgeous  apparel,  soft 


of  speech,  graceful  and  courteous  in  demeanor,  and 
with  kindly  faces. 

These  looked  up  with  joyous  surprise  as  the 
gingerbread  man  and  Chick  entered,  and  the  gen- 
tlemen all  arose  and  bowed  politely  to  the  strangers. 

"Welcome!'  cried  the  ladies,  in  a  soft  chorus; 
and  then  two  of  their  number  came  forward  and 

152 


The    Palace    of    Romance 

led  their  unexpected  guests  to  seats  in  the  very 
center  of  the  room.  Others  offered  them  refresh- 
ment, of  which  Chick  eagerly  partook,  for  the  child 
was  hungry.  John  Dough  was  obliged  to  explain 
that  he  did  not  eat,  and  they  accepted  his  speech 
very  graciously  and  did  not  remark  at  all  upon  his 
unusual  personality. 

When  the  child  had  finished  eating,  John  said: 

"  May  I  ask  what  palace  this  is,  and  who  rules 
upon  this  island  ? ' 

The  ladies  and  gentlemen  exchanged  significant 
looks,  and  smiled;  but  one  made  answer,  in  a 
deferential  voice : 

"  Good  sir,  this  is  the  Palace  of  Romance ;  and 
we  have  no  ruler  at  all,  each  one  of  our  number 
having  equal  power  and  authority  with  the  others." 

"We  pass  our  time,"  said  another,  "in  telling  of 
tales  of  romance  and  adventure;  and,  whenever  a 
stranger  comes  to  our  palace,  we  require  him  to 
amuse  us  by  telling  all  the  stones  he  may  know." 

"  That  is  a  fair  requirement,"  replied  John.  "  I 
think  I  shall  like  this  Palace  of  Romance,  although 
I  do  not  know  many  tales." 

"  The  more  tales  you  know  the  longer  you  may 
enjoy  our  palace,"  one  of  the  ladies  remarked, 
earnestly. 

153 


The    Palace   of    Romance 

«  How  is  that  ?  "  asked  John,  surprised. 

They  were  silent  for  a  time,  and  ceased  laugh- 
ing. But  finally  one  of  the  gentlemen  said: 

« Our  laws  oblige  us  to  destroy  every  stranger, 
after  he  has  related  to  us  all  the  stories  he  knows. 


It  grieves  us  very  much  to  tell  you  this;  but  the 
laws  cannot  be  changed,  and  the  death  is  very 
simple  and  without  much  pain.  For  you  will  be 
dropped  through  a  trap  into  a  long  slide  leading  to 

154 


The    Palace   of    Romance 

the  bottom  of  the  sea;  and  it  is  said  there  is  little 
discomfort  in  drowning." 

Now,  at  this  John  looked  pale  and  worried, 
and  even  the  laughing  Chick  became  thoughtful. 
Several  of  the  ladies  wiped  their  eyes  with  deli- 
cate handkerchiefs,  as  if  in  sorrow  for  their  fate, 
and  the  men  all  sighed  sympathetically. 

"Why  can  we  not  live,  and  join  your  pleasant 
party?'1  asked  John.  "Why  are  your  laws  so 
severe  regarding  strangers  ? " 

"We  number  exactly  one  hundred — fifty  ladies 
and  fifty  gentlemen,"  was  the  reply.  "And,  as  the 
island  is  small,  a  large  number  of  people  would 
crowd  the  palace  and  rendered  it  uncomfortable. 
We  do  not  entice  strangers  here;  but  neither  dare 
we  permit  them  to  escape  and  tell  the  world  of 
our  pleasant  home;  for  then  the  ocean  would  be 
white  with  the  ships  of  curious  people  coming  to 
visit  us.  So,  long  ago,  the  laws  were  enacted 
obliging  us  to  destroy  whatever  strangers  chanced 
upon  our  retreat.  But  you  are  in  no  immediate 
danger.  As  long  as  your  stories  last  you  will  live; 
and  while  you  live  you  shall  enjoy  every  pleasure 
our  palace  affords." 

John  tried  to  think  how  many  stories  he  knew 
through  the  virtue  of  the  magic  Elixir;  but  the 

155 


The    Palace   of    Romance 

startling  news  he  had  just  heard  so  confused  his 
mind  that  it  drove  all  recollection  of  romance  out 
of  his  head. 

"  Never  mind,"  whispered  Chick.      "  All  stories 
except  the  true  ones  have  to  be  made  up ;    so  I  '11 


make  up  some.  And  don't  you  worry,  John 
Dough.  I  've  been  in  worse  boxes  than  this,  I  can 
tell  you." 

The  gingerbread  man  did  n't  know  exactly  what 
Chick  meant,  but  the  tone  of  confidence  relieved 

156 


The    Palace   of    Romance 

his  embarrassment  and  inspired  him  with  hope.  The 
ladies  and  gentlemen  set  Chick  and  John  in  the 
center  of  their  group  and  drew  their  chairs  around 
them  and  prepared  to  listen  attentively  to  the 
child's  story. 

One  might  suppose  the  Incubator  Baby's  life- 
time had  been  so  brief  that  it  knew  no  stories  at 
all ;  but  Chick  was  full  of  imagination  and  glad  of 
the  chance  to  invent  wonderful  tales  for  others  to 
listen  to.  And  the  child  had  resolved  to  make 
the  stories  so  long  and  so  interesting  that  a  chance 
of  escape  from  death  might  finally  be  discovered. 
The  flying-machine  still  rested  upon  the  roof,  and 
if  they  could  manage  to  regain  it  there  would  be 
no  need  of  their  being  dumped  through  the  trap- 
door into  the  sea. 

So  Chick  began  to  tell  the  company  a  story 
about  an  astonishing  Silver  Pig  that  once  lived  in 
Dagupan  (wherever  that  may  be),  and  was  the  king 
of  all  the  pigs  of  that  vast  country.  His  squeal 
could  be  heard  for  seven  miles,  the  child  solemnly 
declared,  and  the  pig's  feet  were  so  swift  and  tire- 
less that  he  could  have  run  around  the  world  in  a 
single  day  had  there  been  no  oceans  to  stop  him. 

The  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  much  interested 
in  the  story,  and  listened  very  attentively  while 

157 


T  h 


1 


v    e    r 


Chick  related  a  host  of  wonderful  adventures  that 
befell  the  Silver  Pig.  Daylight  faded  away  and  the 
golden  lamps  were  lighted,  but  still  the  Incubator 
Baby  kept  the  story  going. 

Finally  one  of  the  company  interrupted  the  tale 
to  say  that  it  was  bedtime  and  they  must  all  retire, 
but  that  Chick  should  continue  the  story  on  the 
following  day. 

That  was  exactly  what  the  Cherub  wanted,  and 
presently  John  and  his  comrade  were  escorted  to 
beautiful  rooms,  and  the  company  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen  had  bidden  them  a  gracious  and  kindly 
good-night. 


158 


"  How  long  is  that  story  of  the  Silver  Pig?  "  asked 
John,  when  they  were  alone  in  their  room. 

"  As  long  as  I  want  to  make  it,"  answered 
Chick,  brightly. 

"But  suppose  they  get  tired  of  it?"  John  sug- 
gested, timidly. 

"Then  they'll  finish  us  and  the  story  at  the 
same  time,"  laughed  the  child.  "  But  we  won't 
wait  for  that,  John  Dough.  This  palace  isn't  a 
healthy  place  for  strangers,  so  I  guess  the  quicker 
we  get  away  from  it  the  better.  When  everybody 
is  asleep  we  '11  go  to  the  place  where  our  machine 
lies,  up  on  the  roof,  and  fly  away." 

"Very  good,"  agreed  John,  with  a  sigh  of  relief. 
"  I  had  begun  to  think  we  would  be  killed  by  these 
pleasant  ladies  and  gentlemen." 

They  waited  for  an  hour  or  two,  to  be  sure  all 
others  in  the  palace  were  asleep,  and  then  they 
crept  softly  from  the  room  and  began  to  search  for 
the  staircase.  The  passages  were  so  alike  and  so 

159 


The       Silver       Pig 

confusing  that  this  was  no  easy  task ;  but  finally, 
just  as  they  were  about  to  despair,  they  came  upon 
the  stairs  and  mounted  to  the  upper  story  of  the 
palace.  And  now  they  really  became  lost  in  the 
maze  of  cross  passages  that  led  in  every  direction; 
nor  could  they  come  to  that  particular  doorway 
that  led  to  the  stairs  they  had  descended  from  the 
little  flat  roof  where  the  flying-machine  lay.  Often 
they  imagined  they  had  found  the  right  place ;  but 
the  stairs  would  lead  to  some  dome  or  turret  that 
was  strange- to  them,  and  they  would  be  obliged  to 
retrace  their  steps. 

Morning  found  the  child  and  the  gingerbread 
man  still  wandering  through  the  endless  passages, 
and  at  last  they  were  obliged  to  abandon  the  quest 
and  return  to  their  room. 

All  that  following  day  the  fair-haired,  blue-eyed 
Baby  continued  the  strange  tale  of  the  Silver  Pig, 
while  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  Palace  of 
Romance  seemed  to  listen  with  real  pleasure.  For, 
long  ago,  they  had  told  each  other  all  the  stories 
they  could  themselves  remember  or  imagine;  so 
that  it^was  a  rare  treat  to  them  to  hear  of  the 
wonderful  adventures  of  Chick's  Silver  Pig,  and 
they  agreed  that  the  longer  the  story  lasted  the  bet- 
ter they  would  be  pleased. 

160 


T  h 


1 


v    e    r 


"  I  hope  you  will  not  die  for  several  days,"  one 
lady  said  to  the  child,  with  a  sweet  smile. 

That  made  Chick  laugh. 

"  Don't  you  worry  about  me,"  was  the  reply. 
"  If  stories  will  keep  me  alive  I  '11  die  of  old  age ! ' 

When  bedtime  again  arrived  the  tale  of  the 
Silver  Pig  was  still  unfinished,  and  once  more 
Chick  and  the  gingerbread  man  were  courteously 
escorted  to  their  chambers. 

They  spent  the  second  night  in  another  vain 
attempt  to  find  the  stairs  leading  to  the  flat  roof, 
and  morning  found  them  as  ignorant  as  ever  of 
the  location  of  their  flying-machine. 

In  spite  of  the  little  one's  courage,  the  task  of 
carrying  the  Silver  Pig  through  so  many  adventures 
was  a  very  difficult  feat,  and  the  child  was  weary 
for  lack  of  sleep. 
On  that  third 
day  John  fully 
expected  that 
Chick's  inven- 
tion would  be- 
come exhausted, 
and  they  would 
both  be  dropped 
through  the 


161 


The       Silver       Pig 

trap-door  into  the  sea.  Chick  thought  of  the 
sea,  too,  but  the  thought  gave  the  child  one  more 
idea,  and  it  promptly  tumbled  the  Silver  Pig  over 
the  side  of  a  ship  and  landed  the  adventurous 
animal  upon  the  bottom  of  the  ocean,  where 
(Chick  went  on  to  say)  it  became  acquainted  with 
pretty  mermaids  and  huge  green  lobsters,  and  res- 
cued an  amarylis  from  a  fierce  and  disagreeable 
sea-dragon.  This  part  of  the  tale  soon  became 
really  exciting,  and  when  bedtime  again  arrived 
the  listeners  were  glad  to  believe  they  would  hear 
more  of  the  famous  Silver  Pig  during  the  follow- 
ing day. 

But  Chick  knew  very  well  that  the  story  had 
now  been  stretched  out  to  the  very  limit,  and  when 
they  were  alone  the  child  took  the  gingerbread 
man's  hand  and  said: 

"  Unless  we  can  find  those  stairs  to-night,  John 
Dough,  our  jig  is  up.  For  by  to-morrow  evening 
I  '11  be  at  the  bottom  of  the  deep  blue  sea,  and 
the  fishes  will  be  having  a  nice  supper  of  soaked 
Incubator  Baby  with  gingerbread  on  the  side." 

"  Please  do  not  mention  such  a  horrible  thing," 
exclaimed  John,  with  a  shiver.  "  The  stairs  are 
surely  in  existence,  for  once  we  came  down  them; 
so  let  us  make  one  more  careful  search  for  them." 

162 


The       Silver       Pig 

This  they  did,  walking  for  hours  up  and  down 
the  passages,  pulling  aside  every  drapery  they  came 
to,  but  never  finding  the  slender  staircase  that  led 
to  the  flat  roof. 

Even  when  it  grew  daylight  they  did  not  aban- 
don the  quest;  for  they  could  see  their  way  much 
better  than  when  feeling  along  dim  passages  by  the 
uncertain  light  of  the  moon ;  and,  as  the  danger 
grew  every  moment,  they  redoubled  their  eager- 
ness in  the  quest. 

All  at  once  they  heard  footsteps  approaching; 
and,  as  they  were  standing  in  the  middle  of  a  long 
passage,  they  pressed  back  against  the  marble  wall 
to  escape  discovery.  At  once  the  wall  gave  way, 
and  John  tumbled  backward  into  another  passage, 
with  the  Cherub  sprawling  on  top  of  him.  For 
they  had  backed  against  a  drapery  painted  to  re- 
present a  wall  of  the  outer  passage,  and  now  found 
themselves  in  a  place  they  had  not  before  explored. 

Hastily  regaining  their  feet,  the  fugitives  ran 
down  the  passage,  and  at  the  end  came  suddenly 
upon  another  heavy  drapery,  which,  when  thrust 
aside,  was  found  to  conceal  the  identical  flight  of 
steps  they  had  sought  for  so  long  and  unsuccess- 
fully. '. 

Uttering  cries   of  joy,   Chick   and  John  quickly 

163 


The       Silver       Pig 

mounted  the  stairs  and  found  themselves  upon  the 
flat  roof. 

The  flying  bird  lay  as  they  had  left  it,  and  they 
were  about  to  crawl  inside  when  the  sound  of 
footsteps  mounting  the  stairs  was  heard. 

"Quick!'  shouted  the  child.  "Jump  in,  John 
Dough ! " 

"Is  it  safe?"  asked  John,  who  remembered  how 
they  had  bumped  upon  the  roof. 

"Well,  it's  either  air  or  water  for  us,  my  friend, 
and  I  prefer  the  air,"  laughed  Chick,  whose  cheeks 
were  red  with  exitement. 

John  hesitated  no  longer  and  was  soon  inside 
the  bird's  body.  Chick  scrambled  after  and  at 
once  pressed  the  electric  button,  while  John  threw 
over  the  silver  lever. 

The  big  wings  began  to  flop  just  as  a  number  of 
men  came  upon  the  roof,  uttering  loud  cries  at  the 
evident  attempt  of  their  prisoners  to  escape.  But 
the  strong  pinions  of  the  bird  swept  them  flat,  like 
so  many  ten-pins,  and  before  they  could  get  upon 
their  feet  again  the  flying-machine  was  high  in  the 
air  and  well  out  of  their  reach. 


THE    ESCAPE 


"  This  invention  works  better  than  I  thought  it 
would,  after  getting  that  bump,"  John  remarked, 
as  they  flew  onward  over  the  vast  expanse  of 
rolling  waves. 

"It's  a  bit  wobbly,  though,"  said  Chick. 
"  Don't  you  notice  it  flops  a  little  sideways  ? ' 

"  Yes,"  answered  John,  "  and  it  seems  to  me  the 
bird  does  not  move  so  swiftly  as  it  did  at  first." 

"  Guess  the  'lectricity  's  giving  out,"  returned 
Chick,  calmly.  "  If  it  does,  what  '11  happen  ? ' 

"We'll  be  drowned,  I  suppose,"  said  John.  "I 
don't  understand  electricity,  for  the  wisdom  I  de- 
rive from  the  magic  Elexir  dates  far  back  beyond 
the  discovery  of  electric  fluid." 

"Your  wisdom's  bald-headed,  I'm  afraid," 
observed  the  child,  smiling  at  the  solemn  counte- 
nance of  the  gingerbread  man.  "But,  say!  Isn't 

166 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

that  another  island  over  there?"  Chick  continued, 
after  a  look  through  one  of  the  little  windows. 

"  It  appears  to  be  an  island,"  replied  John,  also 
gazing  through  the  window. 

Even  as  he  spoke  the  bird  gave  a  lurch  and 
swooped  downward  toward  the  sea,  tipping  at  such 
an  angle  that  Chick  and  the  gingerbread  man  were 
both  tumbled  off  their  seats.  John's  glass  eyes  had 
a  look  of  fear  in  them,  but  Chick  laughed  as 
merrily  as  if  there  was  no  danger  at  all,  and  began 
pushing  the  electric  buttons  with  great  vigor,  one 
after  another. 

The  result  was  that  the  flying-machine  paused, 
righted  itself,  plunged  higher  into  the  air,  circled 
around  a  few  times,  and  then  sailed  rapidly  toward 
the  west.  Chick  scrambled  back  to  the  seat  and 
threw  over  the  steering  wheel  in  order  to  make  the 
machine  head  directly  toward  the  island  they  had 
seen. 

"  If  we  can  keep  her  going  till  we  get  to  that 
island,  I  don't  care  what  happens  afterward,"  said 
the  child.  "But  if  we're  dumped  in  the  sea  I'm 
afraid  we  can't  swim  far." 

"  I  can't  swim  at  all,"  John  returned ;  "  for  in 
three  strokes  my  gingerbread  would  become  soaked 
through  and  fall  to  pieces.  And  the  water  would 

167 


Pittypat    and    the     Mifkets 

dilute  the  Elixir  that  I  am  mixed  with  and  destroy 
all  its  magic  powers.  By  the  way,  what's  the  thing 
doing  now  ? ' 

"It's   getting   more   wobbly.       But    never   mind. 
It's  lots  of  fun,  is  n't  it,  John  Dough  ?  " 


"Not-exactly  fun,"  said  John,  seriously;  "but 
I  will  admit  this  voyage  is  rather  exciting." 

Just  then  something  snapped,  and  they  heard  a 
rapid  whir  of  machinery  inside  the  bird,  a  squeak 

168 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

that  sounded  like  a  wail  of  despair,  and  then  a  dull 
crash.  The  big  machine  trembled,  ceased  flopping 
its  wings,  and  remained  poised  in  the  air  like  an 
immense  kite. 

"  It 's  all  up,"  said  Chick.     "  The  thing's  busted." 

"What's  goingto  happen  ?  "  asked  John,  anxiously. 

"Wait  and  see,"  returned  Chick,  with  a  laugh. 

"It's  cruel  to  laugh  when  we  are  in  such  grave 
danger!  "  said  John,  reproachfully. 

"  Shucks!  "  cried  the  child.  "It  might  be  my  last 
laugh,  and  I  'd  be  foolish  to  miss  it." 

The  bird  was  still  floating,  for  its  broad  wings 
were  rigidly  spread  out  to  their  fullest  extent;  but 
every  moment  the  machine  sailed  nearer  to  the 
sea,  and  although  it  was  surely  nearing  the  island, 
neither  John  nor  Chick  could  decide  whether  it 
would  finally  succeed  in  reaching  the  shore  or  fall 
into  the  water. 

Even  the  careless  Cherub  paused  with  bated 
breath  to  watch  the  final  catastrophe,  and  John, 
resigned  to  whatever  fate  might  befall  him,  never- 
theless passed  the  most  anxious  moments  of  his 
brief  lifetime. 

The  bird  sailed  down,  rested  upon  the  water 
a  few  feet  from  the  shore,  and  floated  upon  the 
surface. 

169 


Pittypat    and     the     Mifkets 

Chick  and  John  dared  not  open  the  door  for 
fear  of  letting  in  the  ocean  and  so  being  drowned. 
Neither  could  they  now  see  where  they  were,  for 
the  green  water  pressed  close  against  the  little 
windows.  So  they  sat  silently  within  the  machine 
until  there  came  a  sudden  jar  and  the  bird 
rolled  over  upon  one  side  and  lay  still. 

"We're  saved!'  cried  the  Cherub.  For  now 
one  of  the  windows  was  raised  above  the  water  and 
enabled  them  to  see  that  the  bird  had  drifted  to 
the  shore  of  the  island  and  was  fast  upon  the  beach. 

Chick  unfastened  the  door  and  crawled  out; 
and  then  the  child  assisted  John  to  leap  from  the 
machine  to  the  shore  without  even  wetting  his  feet. 
And  it  was  indeed  fortunate  they  acted  so  promptly, 
as  no  sooner  were  they  safely  upon  the  island  than 
a  big  wave  dashed  up,  caught  the  broken  flying- 
machine  in  its  grasp,  and  rolled  it  out  to  sea  again, 
where  it  quickly  sank  to  the  bottom  and  dis- 
appeared from  their  view  forever. 

"That's  all  right,"  said  the  child.  "I  wouldn't 
care  to  ride  in  the  thing  again,  anyhow.  Would 
you,  John  Dough  ? ' 

"  No,"  answered  the  gingerbread  man.  "  But 
what  a  shame  it  was  to  accuse  Imar  of  being  a 
successful  inventor!  If  the  Kinglet  of  Phreex 

170 


CHICK    ASSISTS    JOHN    TO    LAND 


171 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

could  have  watched  our  flight  he  would  know  that 
Imar  has  n't  solved  the  flying-machine  problem  yet." 

"  Still,  it  carried  us  away  from  two  bad  places," 
said  Chick,  "  and  that 's  all  we  wanted  of  it. 
Come  on,  John  Dough;  let's  go  and  explore  our 
island." 

It  did  not  take  our  adventurers  long  to  discover 
they  were  in  a  really  remarkable  place.  Near  the 
shore  was  a  strip  of  land  that  at  first  sight  seemed 
thickly  covered  with  grass;  but  when  Chick 
examined  it  closely  it  was  found  to  be  a  mass  of 
tiny  trees  set  close  together,  and  each  tree  was  full 
of  small  and  tender  green  leaves.  And,  as  the 
trees  were  only  an  inch  or  two  high,  they  really 
looked  like  grass  from  a  distance  and  proved  to  be 
soft  and  pleasant  to  walk  upon. 

But  behind  this  green  sward  towered  a  forest  so 
strange  and  magnificent  that  both  Chick  and  John 
Dough  held  their  breaths  in  amazed  awe  as  they 
gazed  upon  it.  For  they  beheld  a  confused  group 
of  the  most  gorgeous  plants  imaginable,  most  of 
them  having  broad  leaves  as  big  as  the  sails  of  a 
ship  and  of  exceedingly  vivid  colorings.  There  were 
violet  and  carmine  leaves  side  by  side  with  brilliant 
yellows  and  pinks,  blues  and  ambers,  and  among 
them  great  bunches  of  pure  white  leaves  that 

172 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

in  fairness  rivaled  those  of  a  lily.  Some  of  the  huge 
forest  plants  were  low  and  broad  —  no  taller  than 
an  ordinary  house  —  but  many  of  them  shot  up 
into  the  sky  like  spires  and  church  steeples.  And 
another  strange  thing  was  the  fact  that  they  were  all 
filled  with  clusters  of  flowers  of  many  beautiful 
shapes  and  designs.  And  the  flowers  were  of 
various  tints  of  greens  —  running  from  a  delicate 
pea-green  through  all  the  different  shades  to  bright 
emerald,  and  then  to  deep  bottle-greens.  Yet  the 
flowers  were  the  only  green  colors  in  all  the  vast 
forest  of  brilliant  plants — which  glowed  so  magnifi- 
cently under  the  rays  of  the  sun  that  the  eyes  of 
our  friends  were  fairly  dazzled  as  they  gazed. 

"My!'  gasped  Chick.  "Isn't  it  splendiferous, 
John  Dough  ? " 

"  It  is,  indeed  very  gorgeous  and  beautiful," 
answered  the  gingerbread  man.  « But  has  it  oc- 
curred to  you,  little  friend,  that  there  may  be  noth- 
ing for  you  to  eat  in  all  this  wilderness  of  color." 

"  Eat  ?  "  exclaimed  Chick.  «  Why,  John  Dough, 
I  'm  hungry  this  very  minute!  I  haven't  had  a  bite 
to  eat  since  I  left  the  Palace  of  Romance,  and 
now  you  mention  it,  I'm  half  starved.  But  per- 
haps there  isn't  a  smitch  of  oatmeal  or  cream  on 
all  this  island  !  " 

173 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

"Couldn't  you  eat  anything  else?  "  asked  John. 

"  Oh,  I  could,  I  suppose.  But  other  food 
might  make  me  ill,  you  know.  Incubator  Babies 
have  to  be  very  careful  of  their  diet." 

"But  if  you  don't  eat  you  will  die,"  said  John; 
"so  it  will  be  best  for  you  to  dine  upon  whatever 
you  may  find." 

"  There  may  be  fruits  in  the  forest,"  said  Chick, 
thoughtfully;  "but  it's  such  a  queer  forest  that 
quite  likely  the  fruits  are  poisonous." 

"  Still,  you  'd  better  try  them,"  persisted  the 
gingerbread  man.  "  If  you  don't  you'll  die;  and 
if  you  are  poisoned  you  '11  die.  But  there  is  a 
chance  of  your  finding  healthful  fruits  instead  of 
poisonous  ones.  I  regret  that  in  all  my  store  of 
wisdom,  derived  from  the  Arabian  Elixir,  there  is 
no  knowledge  of  such  a  forest  or  the  fruits  these 
gay  plants  may  bear." 

"Well,  you  wait  here  till  I  come  back,"  said 
Chick,  more  cheerfully.  "  I  '11  explore  and  see 
what  I  can  find.  There  's  no  need  to  worry  until 
the  time^  comes,  anyhow." 

With  that  the  little  one  waved  a  chubby  hand 
toward  John  Dough,  and  then  ran  into  the  forest 
and  disappeared  beneath  th£  great  purple  and  orange 
colored  leaves. 

174 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 


And  now  it  occurred  to  the  gingerbread  man  to 
make  an  examination  of  himself  and  see  what  an 
extent  of  damage  he  had  suffered  since  he  had  come, 
hot  and  fresh,  from  Monsieur  Jules'  bakery. 

His  lovely  shirt-front  was  cracked  in  several  places 
and  speckled  with  tiny  black  spots  where  the  pow- 
der of  the  rocket  had  burned  it.  His  left  shoulder 
was  also  black- 
ened with  burned 
powder,  and  he 
had  lost  one  of 
the  lozenge  but- 
tons from  his  red 
vest.  Also,  one  of 
his  heels  was 
slightly  crumbled, 
and  there  were 
three  marks  in  his 
body  where  the 
diamonds  had 
been  pressed  into 
him,  beside  the 
lance-thrust  of 
the  Blunderer. 

These  damages 
were    not    at     all 


175 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

serious,  however,  and  he  was  beginning  to  con- 
gratulate himself  upon  his  escape,  when  he  dis- 
covered a  curious  sensation  in  his  nose.  Raising 
his  hand,  he  found  that  the  extreme  end  of  his 
nose  had  been  chipped  off  in  some  way  during 
his  escape  from  the  Palace  of  Romance,  and  this 
rather  marred  his  personal  appearance.  The 
discovery  made  him  sigh  regretfully;  and  when  he 
looked  around,  in  the  newly  arrived  sunlight,  it 
seemed  that  his  vision  had  become  in  some  way 
twisted  and  unnatural.  He  could  not  understand 
this  at  first,  and  rose  to  his  feet  rather  dazed  and 
unhappy.  Then  an  idea  occurred  to  him,  and  he 
felt  of  his  glass  eyes  and  found  that  one  —  the  left 
eye  —  had  become  loose  in  its  socket  and  turned 
inward,  making  him  cross-eyed.  He  remedied  this 
by  turning  it  with  his  fingers  until  it  looked 
straight  ahead  again,  and  matched  the  other  eye; 
but  often  thereafter  that  left  eye  would  get 
twisted  and  bother  him  until  he  turned  it  straight 
again. 

While  he  awaited  Chick's  return,  John  strolled 
to  the  edge  of  the  forest  and  sat  down  upon  a  big 
yellow  mushroom  that  was  strong  enough  to  bear 
his  weight.  It  seemed  to  be  a  peaceful  island,  and 
the  gingerbread  man  was  well  pleased  with  his 

176 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

surroundings,  having  at  that  time  no  idea  of  all 
the  desperate  adventures  that  were  to  befall  him 
before  he  saw  the  last  of  those  brilliant  shores. 

From  his  feet  the  beach  sloped  gently  to  meet 
the  waves  of  the  blue  ocean,  and  on  the  sands 
were  many  shells  of  curious  shapes  and  colors. 
The  breath  of  the  wind  was  full  of  the  fragrance 
of  the  flowers,  and  in  the  forest  plants  many 
birds  sang  sweet  songs. 

As  he  watched  the  waves,  the  birds,  and  the 
flowers,  John  heard  a  slight  rustling  sound,  and 
turning  his  glass  eyes  downward  saw  at  his  feet  a 
small  animal  which  sat  upon  its  haunches  and 
regarded  him  with  big  and  earnest  eyes. 

"  Who  are  you  ? '  asked  the  gingerbread  man ; 
"  and  what  is  your  name  ? ' 

"My  name  is  Pittypat,  and  I'm  a  rabbit," 
answered  the  animal.  "  But  tell  me,  please,  who 
you  are,  and  what  may  be  your  name;  for  I  have 
never  seen  your  like  before." 

"  I  am  a  gingerbread  man,  and  my  name  is  John 
Dough,"  he  replied,  readily.  And  then,  more 
anxiously,  he  asked :  "  Do  you  eat  gingerbread, 
friend  Pittypat  ? ' 

"  No,  indeed,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  prefer  clover 
and  sweet  roots.  But  please  answer  another 

177 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

question.      How    is    that  you  understand   my    lan- 
guage, and  can  talk  to  me  ? ' 


« I  cannot  tell  you  that,  I  'm  sure,"  said  John, 
"unless  it's  the  effect  of  the  Elixir.  That  seems 
to  be  responsible  for  almost  everything,  you  know." 

178 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

The  rabbit  did  not  know,  of  course,  and  looked 
at  its  new  acquaintance  in  a  puzzled  sort  of  way. 

"  Are  there  any  more  like  you  on  this  island  ? ' 
inquired  John  Dough 

"  Oh,  yes ;  there  are  lots  of  us! '  exclaimed  the 
rabbit.  "  But  not  so  many  of  us  as  there  are 
Mifkets." 

"  And  what  is  a  Mifket  ? "  asked  John. 

"  A  sort  of  creature  that  is  neither  an  animal 
nor  a  man,"  answered  Pittypat.  "And  the  Mif- 
kets rule  this  island  because  they  are  bigger  and 
fiercer  than  we  rabbits  are.  Also  I  know  many 
squirrels  and  birds  and  mice,  and  the  Fairy  King 
of  the  beavers  —  for  I  am  well  acquainted  here. 
But  I  do  not  like  the  Mifkets,  and  scamper  away 
when  they  come  near.  There  is  a  bouncing  brown 
bear,  also,  who  lives  on  a  hill  yonder,  and  once  he 
claimed  to  be  king  of  all  the  animals.  But  the 
Mifkets  found  out  that  our  bear  is  not  nearly  so 
dreadful  as  he  seems;  so  they  refused  to  obey  him, 
and  now  have  a  king  of  their  own.  For  my  part, 
however,  I  like  the  brown  bear  best  of  all  our  in- 
habitants, for  he  has  a  jolly  nature  and  never  hurts 
any  one." 

"  But  are  there  no  men  —  no  people  like  me 
upon  this  island?"  asked  John. 

179 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

"  No  one  like  you,  most  surely,"  answered  Pitty- 
pat, staring  at  the  gingerbread  man  with  its  big 
eyes.  "  But  as  for  human  creatures,  there  are 
three  who  dwell  with  the  Mifkets,  near  the  other 
side  of  the  forest." 

"Dear  me!'  sighed  John;  "I'm  sorry  to  hear 
that.  Who  are  the  humans?' 

"Well,  one  is  the  Princess,  and  the  Princess  is 
very  beautiful  and  lovely,"  answered  Pittypat.  "  She 
isn't  much  bigger  than  the  child  I  saw  here  with 
you  a  few  minutes  ago;  but  our  little  Princess  is 
beloved  by  every  creature  on  the  island — except, 
perhaps,  the  Mifkets,  who  love  only  themselves." 

"  Does  the  Princess  live  in  a  palace  ?  "  asked  John. 

"Oh,  yes;  a  beautiful  palace  made  by  bending 
downward  the  big  leaves  of  the  roi-tree  and  fastening 
the  ends  to  the  ground.  One  of  the  leaves  is  left 
loose,  for  a  doorway,  and  in  the  room  thus  formed 
the  Princess  lives  in  great  state  and  loneliness,  and 
sleeps  upon  a  bed  of  fragrant  mosses." 

"Does  she  like  gingerbread?'  inquired  John, 
after  a  thoughtful  pause. 

"  I  dorTt  believe  she  knows  what  gingerbread  is," 
the  rabbit  replied.  « But  you  may  be  sure  the 
Princess  will  not  harm  you,  however  fond  she 
might  be  of  gingerbread." 

180 


THE  HOME   OF   THE   PRINCESS 


181 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

"  I  'm  glad  to  hear  that,"  said  John.  "  But  your 
Princess  is  the  only  one  of  the  three  human 
creatures  you  mentioned.  Who  are  the  others  ? ' 

"Her  father  and  mother,"  said  the  rabbit. 
"  The  three  landed  here  in  a  small  boat  some  years 
ago.  They  were  shipwrecked,  I  suppose,  and  the 
boat  is  still  lying  upon  the  north  shore.  But  the 
terrible  Mifkets  captured  the  father  and  mother 
of  the  Princess  and-  made  them  slaves,  to  wait 
upon  them  and  obey  their  wishes ;  and  as  the 
little  girl  was  delicate  and  not  very  strong,  they 
let  her  live  by  herself  in  the  palace  of  the  roi- 
tree,  and  mocked  her  by  calling  her  a  Princess. 
If  she  grows  up  to  be  strong  I  think  they  will 
make  her  a  slave,  too ;  but  she  is  so  frail  and 
weak  that  none  of  us  rabbits  believe  she  will  live 
very  long." 

"  This  is  all  very  interesting,"  said  John.  "  I  'd 
really  like  to  meet  these  humans." 

"  Then  come  with  me  and  I  will  guide  your 
steps  to  where  they  are,"  promised  the  rabbit. 

"I  must  wait  until  Chick  comes  back,"  said  the 
gingerbread  man,  looking  toward  the  plant  forest. 

"  Is  Chick  the  child  I  saw  going  into  the 
forest?"  asked  the  rabbit. 

"Yes,"    replied  John.      "It's  an  Incubator  Baby 

182 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

and  very  jolly  and  kind.  Chick  ought  to  be  back 
in  a  few  minutes." 

"I  'm  rather  nervous  when  children  are  around," 
declared  the  rabbit,  hesitating.  "Are  you  sure 
Chick  is  kind?" 

"Very,"  said  John,  with  conviction;  "so  don't 
you  worry,  friend  Rabbit." 

At  that  moment  the  Cherub  came  running  up 
with  both  hands  full  of  fruits,  which  were  indeed 
odd  in  shape,  but  delicious  in  odor  and  enticing 
in  appearance. 

"I  won't  starve,  John  Dough!'  was  the  merry 
greeting.  "  The  forest  is  full  of  fruit  plants,  and 
I  've  eaten  some  already,  and  have  n't  been 
poisoned.  But  where  did  you  find  this  pretty 
rabbit?  And  how  tame  it  seems  to  be!  ' 

"It's  a  friend  of  mine  named  Pittypat,  and  I've 
discovered  I  can  speak  its  language,"  replied  John. 
"Also  there's  a  Princess  living  near  by,  and  Pitty- 
pat has  promised  to  guide  us  to  her  royal 
palace." 

"  All  right !  '  exclaimed  Chick,  busily  eating  of 
the  fruit.  "  Let's  go  now." 

John  turned  to  the  little  animal  beside  him  and 
said,  in  the  rabbit  language :  "  We  are  ready  to 
start,  my  friend." 

183 


Pittypat    and    the    Mifkets 

"You'll  have  to  meet  the  Mifkets,  you  know," 
said  Pittypat,  rather  fearfully. 

"Never  mind;  we're  not  afraid,"  answered 
John,  boldly ;  and  Chick,  who  as  yet  had  heard 
nothing  of  the  Mifkets,  continued  to  munch  the 
fruit  with  perfect  composure. 

So  the  rabbit  whisked  around,  lifted  its  big  ears 
a  moment,  sniffed  the  air,  and  then  sprang  away 
with  long  and  graceful  leaps  along  a  tiny  path 
that  led  through  the  magnificent  forest. 


184 


John  settled  the  baker's  hat  (which  was  showing 
distinct  signs  of  having  been  frequently  crumpled) 
upon  his  gingerbread  head,  picked  up  the  remains 
of  his  candy  cane,  and  followed  the  guidance  of 
the  white  rabbit.  Chick  came  after,  tripping 
lightly  along  the  path.  Before  they  had  gone 
very  far  beneath  the  bright-hued,  mammoth  foliage 
Pittypat  gave  a  sudden  whisk  and  disappeared  from 
sight,  having  popped  into  a  hole.  John  Dough, 
of  course,  stopped  and  gazed  around  with  his  glass 
eyes  to  see  what  had  become  of  his  new  friend,  and 
at  the  same  moment  a  queer  creature  dropped 
from  an  overhead  leaf  and  stood  in  the  path  of 
the  gingerbread  man.  Another  followed,  and  still 
another,  and  the  three  strange  beings  looked  at 
John  curiously,  as  if  as  much  surprised  at  the 
meeting  as  he  could  be.  Chick  pressed  close  to 
the  side  of  the  gingerbread  man  and  stared  with 
big  eyes  at  the  new  arrivals. 

Perhaps  nowhere  else  in  all  the  world  could  be 

185 


The      Island      P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  s 


found  such  unusual  creatures  as  these  Mifkets. 
Their  heads  had  the  appearance  of  cocoanuts,  and 
were  covered  with  coarse  hair  clipped  close,  and 
turning  upward  until  it  ended  in  a  sharp  peak  at 
the  very  top.  Their  faces  were  like  putty,  with 
small,  beady  eyes  that  glittered  brightly,  flat  noses, 
and  wide,  grinning  mouths.  The  Mifkets  bodies 


were  shaped  like  pears,  and  their  legs  were  short 
and  their  arms  long.  For  clothing  they  wore  gay 
leaves  of  the  forest  plants,  twisted  and  woven 
together-  in  quite  a  clever  way:  and  taken  all 

O  1  J    ' 

together,  they  were  as  unlike  any  creatures  that 
inhabit  our  part  of  the  world  as  can  well  be 
imagined. 

186 


The      Island      P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  s 


"Ah,  these  must  be  the  beings  called  Mifkets," 
remarked  John  Dough,  speaking  aloud  in  a 
language  he  had  never  used  before,  but  that 
seemed  well  fitted  to  such  creatures. 

"That's  easy  enough  to  guess,"  retorted  one  of 
the  group,  coming  nearer  to  the  gingerbread  man 
and  impudently  thrusting  forward  its  putty-like 
face,  which  it  wrinkled  and  distorted  in  a  disturbing 
manner.  "It's  easy  enough  to  tell  we're  Mifkets; 
but  what  in  the  name  of  Jucklethub  are  you  ? 
And  what  strange  child  of  the  human's  is  this  with 


you 


"I'm  a  gingerbread  man,"  answered  John,  with 
dignity;    "and  this  is  my  friend  Chick." 

"We  know 
what  a  man  is; 
and  we  know 
what  a  child 
is;  but  what's 
gingerbread  ?  '' 
demanded  an- 
other of  the 
Mifkets. 

"I'm  gin- 
gerbread," said 
John. 


187 


The      Island      Princess 

"We'll  take  your  word  for  it,"  growled  the 
third  creature.  And  then  it  added:  "What  are 
you  doing  here  ?  ' 

"Standing  still,  just  now,"  said  John,  gravely. 

To  his  surprise  all  three  began  laughing  at  this 
reply,  and  they  seemed  so  greatly  amused  that  one 
hit  another  a  merry  cuff  upon  the  ear,  which  he  in 
turn  passed  on  to  the  third.  But  the  third — the 
growling  one  —  turned  suddenly  upon  John  Dough 
and  gave  him  such  a  sounding  cuff  upon  the  side 
of  his  head  that  the  blow  dazed  him  for  a  moment. 
At  this  Chick  doubled  two  fat  fists  and  ran  at  the 
queer  Mifkets  so  fiercely  that  they  were  greatly 
astonished  at  the  angry  buffets  they  received,  and 
fell  back  a  few  steps  from  the  path.  Immediately 
John  Dough  recovered  his  wits  and  aimed  a  strong 
blow  with  the  candy  cane  at  the  wild  people  of 
the  forest.  Much  to  his  astonishment  it  sent  all 
three  of  them  tumbling  to  the  ground  —  one  over- 
turning the  others.  For  so  great  was  the  energy 
and  strength  lent  to  his  gingerbread  arm  by  the 
magic  Elixir  that  the  Mifkets  could  not  stand 
before  i^ 

Chick  laughed  merrily  at  the  howls  of  their 
enemies,  who  quickly  scrambled  to  their  feet  and 
leaped  into  the  leaves  of  the  giant  plants,  where 

188 


The      Island      Princess 

they  were  hidden  from  sight.  But  the  sound  of 
their  rapid  retreat  could  be  heard  until  it  died  away 
in  the  distance. 

Then  the  rabbit  stuck  its  nose  from  the  hole  in 
which  it  had  hidden  and  said  : 

"  Bravely  done,  little  one.  Bravely  done,  John 
Dough.  Yet  I  warn  you  to  beware  these  wicked 
Mifkets,  who  will  now  consider  you  both  their 
enemies." 

"I  don't  care,"  said  Chick;  "and  I'm  not 
afraid,"  added  John,  who  was  quite  pleased  to  find 
himself  so  powerful. 

"Well,  let  us  continue  our  journey,"  suggested 
Pittypat ;  "  for  I  want  you  to  meet  our  sweet 
Princess.  But  I  advise  you,  whenever  you  meet 
with  more  of  those  Mifkets,  to  try  to  be  friendly 
with  them.  There  are  hundreds  of  them,  you 
know,  and  only  two  of  you." 

"  That  sounds  like  good  advice,"  acknowledged 
John. 

Again  they  started  along  the  path,  and  presently 
it  led  them  out  of  the  forest  to  another  part  of  the 
shore  of  the  island,  where  a  rocky  headland  curved 
into  the  sea  in  the  shape  of  a  new  moon,  forming 
a  pretty  bay,  on  which  floated  a  small  boat  at 
anchor.  On  the  inner  edge  of  this  headland  and 

189 


The      Island      P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  s 


facing  the  bay  stood  a  tall  plant,  whose  broad 
colored  leaves  were  bent  downward  to  form  a  dome- 
shaped  room,  one  leaf  being  turned  up  to  make  an 
opening  that  served  as  a  door. 

"You  must  whistle  at  the  door,  and  the  Princess 


will  appear,"  said  Pittypat.  "I  cannot  talk  with 
her  as  I  do  with  you,  Mr.  Dough;  so  I'll  leave 
you  now,  and  run  home  to  tell  my  folks  of  the 
new  friends  I  have  found."  With  these  parting 

190 


The      Island      P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  s 


words  away  darted  the  rabbit,  and  John  and  Chick 
shyly  approached  the  novel  palace  of  the   Princess. 

"Can  you  whistle.  Chick  ?  "  asked  the  gingerbread 
man;  and  the  Baby,  in  reply,  made  so  shrill  a 
sound  through  the  puckered  pink  lips  that  John 
gave  a  start  of  surprise. 

Almost  immediately  a  girl  appeared  in  the  door- 
way of  the  plant-palace,  and  both  John  and  Chick 
bowed  low  and  then  stood  motionless  to  stare  at 
the  beautiful  face  that  confronted  them.  For  this 
mock  Princess  of  the  Mifkets  was  quite  the  loveliest 
and  sweetest  maiden  that  any  one  has  ever  looked 
upon;  and  so  round  and  innocent  were  her  clear 
eyes  and  so  gentle 
and  winning  her 
smile,  that  to  see 
her  but  once  was 
to  love  her  dearly. 
John  did  not  marvel 
that  the  wild  crea- 
tures of  the  forest 
had  set  this  girl 
apart  as  too  hal- 
lowed to  become 
either  their  slave  or 
companion;  and  he 


191 


The      Island     Princess 

instantly  accepted  this  shipwrecked  waif  as  a  real 
Princess,  and  from  that  moment  worshipped  loyally 
at  her  shrine. 

Chick,  standing  solidly  with  brown  feet  spread 
wide  apart,  chubby  fists  clutching  the  last  of  the 
forest  fruits,  and  tangled  locks  flowing  carelessly 
around  the  laughing  face,  was  a  strong  contrast  to 
the  little  lady  who  advanced  from  the  door  with 
dainty  steps  to  welcome  the  strangers.  The  Prin- 
cess wore  a  gown  of  woven  leaves  plucked  from 
the  island  plants,  but  so  slight  and  graceful  was  her 
form  that  any  sort  of  dress  would  be  sure  to  seem 
fit  and  becoming  if  the  maid  wore  it. 

"  Hello !  "  said  Chick.    "We  've  come  to  see  you." 

"  I  'm  glad  of  that,"  answered  the  girl,  in  a  soft 
voice,  as  she  came  close  and  kissed  the  Cherub's 
rosy  mouth.  "It  has  been  dreadfully  lonesome  in 
this  place  without  any  one  to  play  with  or  to  keep 
me  company.  But  may  I  inquire  who  you  are  ? ' 

"This  is  John  Dough,"  answered  the  Cherub, 
briefly;  "and  I  'm  Chick." 

"I'm  pleased  to  make  your  acquaintance,"  said 
the  girl. ^  "  They  call  me  the  Princess;  but  that  is 
in  mockery,  I  am  sure." 

"But  are  you  not  treated  as  a  Princess?"  asked 
John. 

192 


The      Island     P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  5 


"Yes;  and  that  is  why  I  am  so  lonely,"  the  girl 
replied,  sadly.  "The  naughty  Mifkets  have  made 
my  poor  father  and  mother  their  slaves,  and  mock 
me  by  shutting  me  in  this  tree-house  and  calling  it 
a  palace  and  me  a  Princess.  But  really  I  am  as 
much  a  slave  as  either  of  my  dear  parents." 

"  Can't  you  go  out  if  you  want  to  ? "  asked 
Chick. 

"Oh,  yes;  but  the  island  is  small,  and  there  is 
no  one  to  play  with  except  Pittypat,  who  is  a 
white  rabbit,  and  Para  Bruin,  who  is  a  bouncing 
brown  bear." 

"What  strange  companions !  "  said  John.  "I  've 
met  Pittypat,  and  like  the  white  rabbit  very  much; 
but  a  bouncing  brown  bear  must  be  a  dreadful 
creature." 

"  Not  at  all,  I  assure  you,"  returned  the  girl, 
earnestly.  "Just  wait  until  you  meet  him,  and 
you'll  see  that  he  couldn't  hurt  any  one  if  he 
would,  and  would  n't  if  he  could." 

"That's  all  right,"  said  Chick. 

"  But  do  the  Mifkets  illtreat  you  in  any  way  ? " 
asked  John. 

"  Oh,  no ;  until  now  they  have  done  me  no 
real  injury  whatever,"  the  Princess  answered,  "but 
their  tempers  are  so  hateful  that  I  am  in  constant 

193 


The      Island      P  r 


i  n  c  e  s  s 


fear  of  them.  You  must  meet  the  Mifkets,  of 
course,  since  you  cannot  leave  this  island;  and 
you  must  obey  them  as  we  all  do.  But  perhaps 
Mr.  Dough,  being  made  of  gingerbread,  will  be 
treated  with  more  respect  than  human  beings  are." 

"  Or  with  less/'  said  John,  with  a  shudder. 
"  Nevertheless,  we  will  meet  the  Mifkets  boldly, 
and  I  am  not  going  to  make  myself  unhappy  by 
being  afraid  of  them." 

"Nor  I,"  said  Chick.      "They're  only    beasts." 

"  Then,  if  you  will  please  follow  me,  I  will  lead 
you  to  the  king's  village,"  said  the  girl ;  "  and 
there  you  may  see  my  father  and  mother." 

"  Very  well,"  agreed  John.  "  But  I  must  tell 
you  that  we  have  already  encountered  three  of 
these  creatures,  and  defeated  them  easily." 

"  I  pounded  'em  like  sixty,"  added  the  Cherub, 
with  a  nod  and  a  laugh. 

The  Princess  led  them  by  a  path  deep  into  the 
forest,  passing  underneath  the  broad  leaves  of  the 
plants,  which  were  so  thick  that  they  almost  shut 
out  the  daylight  and  made  the  way  gloomy  and 
fearsome.  But  before  long  a  big  clearing  was 
reached,  in  the  center  of  which  was  a  rocky  mound 
with  a  broad,  flat  stone  at  the  very  top.  All 
around  were  houses  made  by  bending  down  the 

194 


THE    KING    OF    THE    MIFKETS 


195 


The      Island      P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  s 


huge  leaves  of  the  plants  and  fastening  them  to  the 
ground  with  wooden  pegs,  thus  forming  circular 
rooms.  None  of  these  houses  seemed  quite  so 
handsome  as  the  palace  of  the  Princess;  but  they 
were  big  and  of  many  colors,  and  when  our 
friends  stepped  into  the  clearing  a  swarm  of  the 
Mifket  people  crowded  out  of  the  doorways  to 
surround  the  strangers  and  gaze  upon  them 
curiously. 

• 

Upon  the  flat  stone  in  the  center  of  the  clear- 
ing reclined  an  aged  Mifket,  who  was  lazily  sunning 
himself,  and  who  seemed  to  pay  no  attention  to  the 
chattering  of  his  fellows.  Yet  it  was  toward  this 
stone  that  the  Princess,  after  a  half-frightened  look 
at  its  occupant,  led  her  new  friends;  and  all  the 
Mifkets,  big  and  little,  followed  them  and  formed  a 
circle  around  them  and  the  aged  one. 

"This  is  the  King,"  whispered  the  girl.  "Be 
careful  not  to  anger  him." 

Then  she  knelt  humbly  before  the  flat  stone  that 
served  as  a  throne,  and  John  Dough  knelt  beside 
her.  But  Chick  stood  upright  and  laughed  at  the 
sight  of  the  lazy  Mifket  King  reclining  before  them. 

The  short,  coarse  hair  that  covered  the  head  of 
the  King  was  white,  proving  him  to  be  very  old ; 
and  his  raiment  was  woven  of  pure  white  leaves, 

196 


The      Island      Princess 


distinguishing  him  from  all   the  others   of  his  band. 
But  he  was  not  especially  dignified  in  appearance. 

Hearing  the  murmur  around  him  the  King 
slowly  rolled  his  fat  body  over  and  sat  up,  rubbing 
his  eyes  to  clear  them  of  the  cobwebs  of  sleep. 
Then  he  looked  upon  John  and  Chick  and  gave  a 
grunt.  Immediately  a  little  man  rushed  out  of  a 
dwelling  just  back  of  the 
throne  and  hurried  to  the 
King  with  a  gourd  filled 
with  water.  This  the  aged 
Mifket  drank  greedily,  and 
while  he  was  thus  occu- 
pied the  Princess  grasped 
the  hand  of  the  little  man 
and  pressed  it  affec- 
tionately. 

"  This  is  my  father," 
she  whispered  to  John 
Dough  and  Chick. 

The  little  man  seemed  fussy  and  nervous,  but 
perhaps  this  was  caused  by  the  fear  in  which  he 
constantly  lived.  There  was  little  hair  upon  his 
head,  but  he  wore  chin  whiskers  that  were  bright 
red  in  color  and  luxuriant  in  growth,  and  har- 
monized nicely  with  Jiis  light  blue  eyes.  He  wore 

197 


The      Island      P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  s 


a  faded  and  ragged  suit  of  blue  clothes,  to  which 
he  had  doubtless  clung  ever  since  the  days  when 
he  had  been  shipwrecked  and  cast  upon  this  island. 

John  Dough  was  about  to  express  in  polite 
words  his  pleasure  in  meeting  the  father  of  the 
Princess,  when  the  King,  having  finished  drinking, 
suddenly  flung  the  gourd  at  the  little  man's  head. 
He  ducked  to  escape  it  and  the  gourd  struck  the 
forehead  of  a  big  Mifket  just  behind  and  made  a 
sound  like  the  crack  of  a  whip.  At  once  the  big 
Mifket  —  who  was  remarkable  for  having  black  hair 
upon  his  head  instead  of  the  dingy  brown  that 
was  common  to  all  the  Mifkets  —  uttered  a  roar  of 
rage  and  aimed  a  blow  at  the  bald  head  of  the 
luckless  slave.  But  the  little  man  ducked  this 
blow  also,  and  then  scampered  away  to  the 
royal  dwelling  as  fast  as  his  thin  legs  could  carry 
him. 

"Let  him  go,"  said  the  King,  speaking  sleepily  in 
the  Mifket  language.  Then  he  turned  to  the  black 
one  and  asked  :  "  Who  are  these  creatures,  Ooboo  ? 
and  how  came  they  here  ? ' 

"  I  don't  know,"  answered  Black  Ooboo,  sulkily; 
"  the  girl  brought  them." 

"  Perhaps  I  can  explain,"  said  John  Dough, 
speaking  in  their  language.  ",My  friend  Chick  and 

198 


THE    MIFKETS    HOWLED    WITH    DELIGHT 


109 


The      Island       Princess 

I  arrived  here  but  a  short  time  ago  in  a  flying- 
machine,  which  unfortunately  broke  down  and  pre- 
vented us  from  getting  away  again." 

The  Mifkets  looked  at  the  gingerbread  man 
in  astonishment.  Not  because  they  had  any  idea 
what  a  flying-machine  might  be,  but  to  hear  their 
own  language  spoken  by  so  queer  a  personage, 
filled  them  with  amazement. 

"  Are  you  one  of  those  miserable  creatures  called 
humans  ? '  asked  the  King,  blinking  his  eyes  at  the 
gingerbread  man. 

"  I  cannot,  in  truth,  claim  to  be  precisely  human," 
replied  John,  "  but  it  is  certain  that  I  possess  a 
degree  of  human  wisdom.  It  comes  from  the 
Elixir,  you  know." 

"What  are  you  made  of  ?  "  demanded  the  King, 
who  was  certainly  puzzled  by  John's  words. 

Now,  the  gingerbread  man  realized  that  if  he 
told  the  Mifkets  he  was  good  to  eat  he  would  soon 
be  destroyed;  so  he  answered: 

"  I  am  made  of  a  kind  of  material  known  only 
to  civilized  men.  In  fact,  I  am  very  different  from 
all  the  rest  of  the  world." 

The  King  did  n't  understand,  and  when  he 
didn't  understand  it  made  him  very  tired. 

"  Oh,  well,"  said  he,  lying  back  in  the  sun,  "just 

200 


The      Island      Princess 

make  yourself  at  home  here,  and  see  that  you 
don't  bother  me  by  getting  in  my  way." 

That  might  have  ended  the  interview  had  not 
Black  Ooboo,  scowling  and  angry,  stepped  forward 
and  said  : 

"  If  the  stranger  is  to  live  with  us  he  must  fight 
for  the  right  to  live  in  peace.  It  is  our  custom, 
your  Majesty." 

"  So  it  is,"  returned  the  King,  waking  up  again. 
"  The  stranger  must  fight." 

At  this  decision  all  the  Mifkets  howled  with  de- 
light, and  Chick  and  the  Princess  began  to  be 
uneasy  about  their  friend.  But  John  said,  calmly  : 

"  I  have  never  fought  with  any  one,  your  Ma- 
jesty; but  I'll  do  the  best  I  can.  With  whom 
must  I  fight  ?  ' 

"Why,  with  Black  Ooboo,  I  suppose,"  said  the 
King;  "and  if  you  can  manage  to  give  him  a 
sound  thrashing  I  '11  be  your  friend  for  life." 

Ooboo  scowled  first  at  the  King  and  then  at 
John,  and  all  the  other  Mifkets  scowled  with  him, 
for  the  black  one  was  seemingly  a  great  favorite 
among  them. 

"  Whatever  material  you  may  be  made  of,  bold 
stranger,"  he  said,  "  I  promise  to  crush  you  into 
bits  and  trample  you  into  the  dust." 

201 


The      Island       Princess 

Then  the  crowd  having  pressed  backward,  the 
black  Mifket  sprang  upon  the  gingerbread  man, 
with  long,  hairy  arms  outstretched  as  if  to  clutch 
him.  But  John  was  quicker  than  his  foe.  He 
grasped  Ooboo  about  the  waist,  lifted  him  high  in 


•f         ./'/  '      '       n  in'    /      —-  -^   ",  j&* 


The      Island      P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  s 


the  air —  big  and  heavy  though  he  was  —  and  flung 
him  far  over  the  throne  whereon  the  King  squatted. 
The  black  one  crashed  into  the  leaves  of  a  forest 
plant  and  then  tumbled  to  the  ground,  where  he 
lay  still  for  a  moment  to  recover  from  his  surprise 
and  the  shock  of  defeat. 

The  rabble  of  Mifkets  did  n't  applaud  the  fall 
of  their  champion,  but  they  looked  upon  the  gin- 
gerbread man  with  wonder.  And  the  King  was  so 
pleased  that  he  laughed  aloud. 

"Well  done,  stranger,"  said  he.  "Ooboo  needed 
to  be  taken  down  a  peg,  and  you  did  it  very 
neatly.  Now  get  away,  all  of  you,  and  leave  me 
to  sleep."  He  proceeded  to  curl  himself  up  once 
more  upon  the  flat  stone,  and  the  Mifkets  obeyed 
his  command  and  stole  away  to  their  dwellings. 
John  advanced  to  where  Chick  and  the  Princess 
stood,  and  the  Cherub  patted  him  on  the  hand 
and  said: 

"I'd  no  idea  you  could  do  it,  John.  Wasn't 
it  lovely,  Princess,  to  see  him  toss  that  black  beast 
like  a  football  ? ' 

"I  'm  glad  your  friend  won  the  fight,"  answered 
the  girl;  "but  Black  Ooboo  is  a  dangerous  enemy, 
and  even  the  King  is  afraid  of  him.  Now  come 
with  me,  please.  I  want  you  to  meet  my  dear 

203 


The      Island      P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  s 


mother,  who  is  unfortunately  degraded  to  the  posi- 
tion of  the  King's  cook  ' 

They  entered  with  the  Princess  into  the  royal 
dwelling,  where  a  woman  quickly  seized  the  girl 
in  a  warm  embrace  and  kissed  her  tenderly.  When 
Chick  managed  to  get  a.  full  view  of  the  woman 
she  was  seen  to  be  nearly  as  round  as  an  apple  in 
form,  with  an  apple's  rosy  cheeks,  and  with  cute 
corkscrew  curls  of  an  iron-gray  color  running  from 
her  ears  down  to  her  neck.  When  her  daughter 
entered  she  had  been  busily  engaged  cooking  a 
vegetable  stew  for  the  King's  dinner,  nor  dared  she 
pause  long  in  her  work  for  fear  of  the  King's  anger. 
Chick  was  dreadfully  sorry  for  these  poor  ship- 
wrecked people,  thus  compelled  to  be  slaves  to  the 
fierce  Mifkets,  and  hoped  they  might  find  some  way 

to  escape.  The 
little  man  with  the 
red  whiskers  pres- 
ently crept  in  and 
joined  them,  and 
they  had  a  long  talk 
together  and  tried 
to  think  of  a  plan 
to  leave  the  island, 
but  without  success. 


204 


The      Island      P 


r  i  n  c  e  s  s 


Yet  John  encouraged  them  to  believe  a  way  would 
soon  be  found,  and  they  all  had  great  confidence 
in  his  ability  to  save  the  entire  party;  for  he  had 
proved  himself  both  wise  and  powerful. 

While  they  were  still  talking  the  King  rolled  his 
fat  body  into  the  dwelling  and  demanded  his  din- 
ner, at  the  same  time  ordering  the  Princess  to  get 
back  to  her  own  palace  and  to  stay  there.  But  he 
favored  John  Dough  by  sending  several  of  the  Mif- 
kets  to  build  a  dwelling  for  the  gingerbread  man 
and  the  Incubator  Baby  just  beside  that  of  the 
little  Princess,  which  pleased  them  all  very  much. 


205 


Next  morning  the  little  Princess  came  to  the 
door  of  the  new  dwelling  built  for  Chick  and 
John  Dough,  and  said  to  them: 

"Let  us  take  a  walk,  and  I  will  show  you  how 
beautiful  our  island  is  in  those  parts  where  there 
are  no  Mifkets  to  worry  us." 

So  together  the  three  walked  along  the  shore 
until  they  drew  near  to  a  high  point  of  rock,  the 
summit  of  which  was  reached  by  a  winding  path. 
When  they  had  climbed  up  the  steep  the  Princess 
had  to  stop  to  rest,  for  she  was  not  strong  and 
seemed  to  tire  easily.  And  now,  while  they  sat 
upon  some  rocks,  a  big  brown  bear  came  out  of  a 
cave  and  stood  before  them. 

"Don't  be  afraid,"  whispered  the  Princess.  "He 
won't  hurt  us.  It's  Para  Bruin." 

The  ^bear  was  fat  and  of  monstrous  size,  and 
its  color  was  a  rich  brown.  It  had  no  hair  at  all 
upon  its  body,  as  most  bears  have,  but  was  smooth 
and  shiny.  He  gave  a  yawn  as  he  looked  at  the 

206 


Para    Bruin,    the    Rubber    Bear 


new-comers,  and  John  shuddered  at  the  rows  of 
long,  white  teeth  that  showed  so  plainly.  Also  he 
noticed  the  fierce  claws  upon  the  bear's  toes,  and 
decided  that  in  spite  of  the  rabbit's  and  the 
Princess'  assurances  he  was  in  dangerous  company. 
Indeed,  although  Chick  laughed  at  the  bear,  the 
ginger  bread 
man  grew  quite 
nervous  as  the 
big  beast  ad- 
vanced and 
sniffed  at  him 
curiously —  al- 
most as  if  it 
realized  John 
was  made  of 
gi  n  ge  rbread 
and  that  gin- 
gerbread  is 
good  to  eat. 
Then  it  held  out  a  fat  paw,  as  if  desiring  to  shake 
hands;  and,  not  wishing  to  appear  rude,  John  placed 
his  own  hand  in  the  bear's  paw,  which  seemed  even 
more  soft  and  flabby  than  his  own.  The  next  mo- 
ment the  animal  threw  its  great  arms  around  the 
gingerbread  man  and  hugged  him  close  to  its  body. 

207 


Para    Bruin,    the    Rubber    Bear 

John  gave  a  cry  of  fear,  although  it  was 
hard  to  tell  which  was  more  soft  and  yielding — 
the  bear's  fat  body  or  the  form  of  the  gingerbread 
man. 

"  Stop  that !  '  he  shouted,  speaking  in  the  bear 
language.  "  Let  me  go,  instantly !  What  do  you 
mean  by  such  actions  ?  ' 

The  bear,  hearing  this  speech,  at  once  released 
John,  who  began  to  feel  of  himself  to  see  if  he 
had  been  damaged  by  the  hug. 

"Why  didn't  you  say  you  were  a  friend,  and 
could  speak  my  language?"  asked  the  bear,  in  a 
tone  of  reproach. 

"You  knew  well  enough  I  was  a  friend,  since 
I  came  with  the  Princess,"  retorted  John,  angrily. 
"  I  suppose  you  would  like  to  eat  me,  just  because 
I  am  gingerbread !  ' 

"  I  thought  you  smelled  like  gingerbread,"  re- 
marked the  bear.  "  But  don't  worry  about  my 
eating  you.  I  don't  eat." 

"  No  ?  "  said  John,  surprised.      "  Why  not  ? ' 

"Well,  the  principal  reason  is  that  I'm  made  of 
rubber,"^said  the  bear. 

"Rubber!  "  exclaimed  John. 

"  Yes,  rubber.  Not  gutta-percha,  you  under- 
stand, nor  any  cheap  composition ;  but  pure  Para 

208 


"STOP    THAT!"  JOHN    SHOUTED 


209 


Para    Bruin,    the    Rubber    Bear 

rubber  of  the  best  quality.  I  'm  practically  in- 
destructible." 

"Well,  I  declare!"  said  John,  who  was  really 
astonished.  "Are  your  teeth  rubber,  also?' 

"  To  be  sure,"  acknowledged  the  bear,  seeming 
to  be  somewhat  ashamed  of  the  fact;  "but  they 
appear  very  terrible  to  look  at,  do  they  not  ?  No 
one  would  suspect  they  would  bend  if  I  tried  to 
bite  with  them." 

"  To  me  they  were  terrible  in  appearance,"  said 
John,  at  which  the  bear  seemed  much  gratified. 

"  I  don't  mind  confiding  to  you,  who  are  a 
friend  and  speak  my  language,"  he  resumed,  "  that 
I  am  as  harmless  as  I  am  indestructible.  But  I 
pride  myself  upon  my  awful  appearance,  which 
should  strike  terror  into  the  hearts  of  all  beholders. 
At  one  time  every  creature  in  this  island  feared 
me,  and  acknowledged  me  their  king;  but  those 
horrid  Mifkets  discovered  I  was  rubber,  and  have 
defied  me  ever  since." 

"How  came  you  to  be  alive?'  asked  John. 
"  Was  it  the  Great  Elixir  ? ' 

"  I  Ve  never  heard  of  the  Great  Elixir," 
replied  the  bear,  "  and  I  've  no  idea  how  I 
came  to  be  alive.  My  earliest  recollection  is 
that  I  was  living  in  much  the  same  way  that  I 
am  now.  Do  you  remember  when  you  were  not 

1!5  »> 
iving  r 

210 


Para    Bruin,    the    Rubber    Bear 

"  No"  said  John. 

This  conversation,  which  she  could  not  at  all 
understand,  surprised  the  Princess  very  much. 
But  she  was  glad  to  see  that  the  rubber  bear  and 
the  gingerbread  man  had  become  friends,  and  so 
she  took  Chick's  hand  and  led  the  smiling  Cherub 
up  to  where  they  stood. 

"  This  is  my  new  friend,  whose  name  is  Chick," 
she  said  to  the  bear,  for  the  girl  was  accustomed 
to  talking  to  Para  Bruin  just  as  she  would  to  a 
person;  "and  you  must  be  as  good  and  kind  to 
Chick  as  you  have  been  to  me,  my  dear  Para,  or  I 
shall  not  love  you  any  more." 

The  bear  gave  the  Princess  a  generous  hug,  and 
then  he  hugged  Chick ;  but  the  words  the  girl  had 
spoken  seemed  to  puzzle  him,  for  he  turned  to 
John  and  said : 

"Why  do  you  suppose  so  many  different  lan- 
guages were  ever  invented  ?  The  Mif  kets  speak 
one  language,  and  you  and  I  speak  another,  and 
the  Princess  and  Chick  speak  still  another!  And 
it  is  all  very  absurd,  for  the  only  language  I  can 
understand  is  my  own." 

"  I  can  speak  with  and  understand  the  Princess 
and  the  Mifkets  as  well  as  I  can  speak  with  you," 
declared  John. 

211 


The  bear  looked  at  him  admiringly. 

"  If  that  is  so,  then  tell  me  what  the  Princess 
said  to  me  just  now,"  he  requested. 

So  John  translated  the  girl's  words  into  the  bear 
language,  and  when  Para  Bruin  heard  them  he 
laughed  with  delight. 

"  Tell  the  Princess  that  I  '11  be  as  good  to  her 
friend  Chick  as  possible,"  said  he,  and  John  at  once 
translated  it  so  that  the  Princess  understood. 

"  That 's  nice,"  said  she.  "  I  knew  Para  would 
be  friends  with  Chick.  And  now  ask  the  bear  to 
bounce  for  us.  He  does  it  often,  and  it  is  a  very 
interesting  sight." 

So  John  requested  the  bear  to  bounce,  which  he 
at  once  agreed  to  do,  seeming  to  feel  considerable 
pride  in  the  accomplishment. 

From  the  point  upon  which  they  stood,  the  hill 
descended  in  a  steep  incline  toward  the  forest,  and 
at  the  bottom  of  the  hill  was  a  big  flat  rock. 
Curling  himself  into  a  ball,  the  great  bear  rolled 
his  body  down  the  hill,  speeding  faster  every 
moment,  until  he  struck  the  flat  rock  at  the 
bottoms  Then  he  bounded  high  into  the  air 
(in  the  same  way  that  a  rubber  ball  does  when 
thrown  down  upon  a  hard  pavement"),  and  made  a 
graceful  backward  curve  until  he  reached  the  top 

212 


Para    Bruin,    the    Rubber    Bear 


of  the  hill  again,  where   he  bounced  up  and   down 
a   few   times,  and   then    stood   upright  and   bowed 
before  the  gingerbread  man  and  the  gleeful  Cherub 
—  who  was  rapturously  delighted   by   the 
performance. 

"  Great  act,  is  n't  it  ?  "  asked  Para  Bruin, 
grinning  with  pride.  "  No  ordinary  bear 
could  do  that,  I  assure  you.  And  it  proves 
the  purity  and  high  grade  of  my  rubber." 

"  It  does,  indeed  ! ' 
declared  John.  "I 
am  greatly  pleased  to 
have  met  so  remark- 
able and  talented  a 
bear." 


213 


r 


Para    Bruin,    the    Rubber    Bear 

"  You  must  visit  me  often,"  said  the  bear,  making 
a  dignified  bow.  "  It  is  a  great  treat  to  hear  my 
own  language  spoken,  for  I  am  the  only  bear  upon 
the  island.  I  have  n't  any  visiting  cards,  but  my 
name  is  Para  Bruin,  and  you  are  always  welcome 
at  my  cave." 

«  I  am  called  John  Dough,"  said  the  gingerbread 
man.  "  I  cannot  claim  to  be  indestructible,  but 
while  I  last  I  shall  be  proud  of  your  friendship,  and 
will  bring  the  children  to  visit  you  often." 

o  J 

"Try  to  teach  them  my  language,"  suggested 
Para  Bruin ;  "  for  I  love  children  and  have  often 
wished  I  might  talk  with  them.  As  for  the  little 
Princess,  all  the  island  people  love  her  dearly — 
except,  of  course,  the  Mifkets — and  we  all  worry, 
more  or  less,  over  her  health.  She 's  weak  and 
delicate,  you  know;  and  her  life  here  is  made  so 
unhappy  by  the  separation  from  her  parents  that 
I  'm  afraid  she  won't  be  with  us  very  long. 

He  wiped  a  tear  from  his  eye  with  a  puffy  paw 
and  glanced  affectionately  at  the  girl. 

'"What's    the    matter    with    her?"  asked    John, 
anxiously. 

"  No  strength  and  vitality,"  answered  the  bear. 
"  She 's  failing  every  day,  and  there  is  n't  a  drug- 
store or  a  doctor  on  the  island.  But  don't  tell 

214 


Para    Bruin,    the    Rubber    Bear 


her,  whatever  you  do.  Perhaps  she  does  n't  realize 
it,  and  the  knowledge  would  only  make  her  more 
unhappy." 

Then  the  bear,  wno  seemed  remarkably  tender- 
hearted, trotted  with  bouncing  footsteps  into  his 
cave,  so  that  the  little  Princess  for  whom  he  grieved 
might  not  see  the  tears  that  stood  in  his  rubber 
eyes. 

After  that  John  and  Chick  and  the  Princess 
started  to  return  to  their  dwellings  by  means  of  a 
short  cut  through  the  forest,  known  to  the  girl. 
John  was  feeling  very  contented  in  the  companion- 
ship of  the  two  children,  and  reflected  that  in  spite 
of  the  Mifkets  his  life  on  this  beautiful  island  bade 
fair  to  be  pleasant  and  agreeable.  But  his  content 
was  suddenly  inter- 
r u  p  t  ed  by  the 
Cherub,  who  gave 
a  loud  cry  and 
pointed  excitedly 
into  the  forest. 

The  gingerbread 
man  had  cast  but 
one  look  when  he 
began  to  tremble 
violently.  For  there 


215 


Para    Bruin,    the    Rubber    Bear 

before  him  —  only  a  few  paces  away  —  stood  his 
bitter  and  relentless  enemy,  Ali  Dubh  the  Arab ! 

"At  last,"  said  Ali  Dubh,  smiling  most 
unpleasantly,  "  I  have  again  found  you." 

John  was  too  agitated  to  reply;  but  Chick 
asked,  boldly: 

"  How  on  earth  did  you  ever  get  to  this 
island? " 

"  By  means  of  the  witch,"  the  Arab  replied.  "  I 
purchased  from  her  two  transport  powders.  One 
transported  me  to  the  Isle  of  Phreex,  and  when 
you  then  escaped  me  the  other  powder  transported 
me  here.  But  I  cannot  allow  the  gingerbread 
man  to  escape  me  again,  because  I  have  no  more 
powders,  nor  any  \vay  to  reach  the  witch  who 
makes  them.  So,  my  dear  John  Dough,  please 
accept  your  fate,  and  permit  me  to  eat  you  at 
once." 

"That  I  cannot  do,"  said  John,  firmly;  "for  if 
I  am  eaten,  that  is  the  end  of  me." 

"  How  selfish  !  "  exclaimed  the  Arab.  "Who  are 
you,  to  be  considered  before  Ali  Dubh,  son  of  a 
mighty  Shiek,  and  chief  of  an  ancient  Tribe  of  the 
Desert  ?  Remember,  sir,  that  when  I  have  eaten 
you  I  shall  gain  for  myself  the  priceless  powers  of 
that  Great  Elixir  contained  in  your  gingerbread,  and 

216 


ALI    DUBH    ATTACKS    JOHN 


217 


will  thus  become  the  most  powerful  and  most 
intelligent  man  in  the  world/  besides  living  forever ! 
Dare  you,  sir,  allow  your  selfish  motives  to  interfere 
with  so  grand  a  result  ?  ' 

"  I  dare,"  replied  John. 

"  But  you  have  nothing  to  say  about  it,"  con- 
tinued the  Arab.  "You  are  not  your  own  master. 
You  belong  to  me,  for  I  purchased  you  from  Jules 
Grogrande,  the  baker,  who  made  you,  and  I  am 
therefore  entitled  to  eat  you  whenever  I  please." 

"  Nevertheless,"  answered  John,  "  I  will  not  be 
eaten  if  I  can  help  it." 

"Ah!    but  that  is  unjust!"  protested  the  Arab. 

"  If  to  be  unjust  is  to  be  eaten,"  said  John, 
"  you  need  not  look  to  me  for  justice.  I  may  be 
wrong  in  this  decision,  but  it  is  better  to  be  wrong 
than  to  be  nothing." 

"  Then,"  remarked  Ali  Dubh,  sadly,  "  you  force 
me  to  eat  you  without  your  consent,  which  it  will 
grieve  me  to  do." 

With  this  he  drew  his  terrible  knife  and  sprang 
upon  John  Dough  with  great  ferocity.  But  in  the 
recent  encounter  with  Black  Ooboo  the  ginger- 
bread man  had  learned  how  powerful  the  Elixir 
made  him  ;  so  he  did  not  run  this  time  from  the 
Arab,  but  avoided  the  thrust  of  the  knife  and 

218 


Para   Bruin,   the  Rubber  Bear 


caught  the  body  of  All  Dubh  in  a  strong  clasp. 
Next  moment  he  had  lifted  him  up  and  tossed  him 
high  into  the  air,  as  easily  as  he  had  tossed  the 
Mifket.  The  Arab  alighted  in  the  top  branches 
of  a  tall  scarlet  plant  and  clung  to  them  in  great 
fear  lest  he  should  fall  to  the  ground  and  be  killed. 
Indeed,  so  frightened  was  he  that  he  uttered 
screams  of  terror  with  every  breath,  and  forgot  all 
about  eating  John  Dough  in  the  more  important 
thought  of  how  he  might  reach  safety. 

"  Let 's  run  !  '  exclaimed  Chick,  grasping  John's 
hand.  "Don't  mind  the  Arab.  If  he  falls  it's 
good  enough  for  him  !  ' 

"  The  Mif  kets  will  rescue 
him,  I  'm  sure,"  added  the 
Princess.  "  See  !  there  come 
some  of  the  creatures  now, 
with  Black  Ooboo  at  their 
head." 

Hearing  this,  John  hesitated 
no  longer,  but  fled  down  an- 
other pathway  with  the  chil- 
dren, and  soon  left  the  sound 
of  Ali  Dubh's  cries  far  behind 
him. 


219 


ack  Ooboo 


That  evening,  when  John  came  out  of  his  tree 
house  to  watch  the  sunset,  he  found  Pittypat,  the 
white  rabbit,  sitting  before  his  door. 

"  I  've  news  for  you,  my  friend,"  began  the 
rabbit,  in  a  grave  voice.  "  Black  Ooboo  and  the 
Arab  who  wanted  to  eat  you  have  become  fast 
friends,  and  together  they  are  determined  to 
destroy  you." 

"  How  did  you  know  tnat  the  Arab  wants  to 
eat  me? '  asked  John. 

"  I  was  hidden  among  the  plants  when  you 
met,  and  heard  your  talk,"  replied  the  rabbit. 
"You  must  look  out  for  Ooboo  and  the  Arab,  or 
they  will  surely  do  you  a  mischief,  for  the  Mifkets 
now  know  that  you  are  good  to  eat." 

"It's  kind  of  you  to  warn  me,"  said  John;  but 
can  you  tell  me  of  any  way  to  escape  from  this 
island,  good  Pittypat  ?  ' 

220 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


"Not  just  at  present,"  returned  the  rabbit; 
"  but  our  Prince  is  very  wise  indeed,  and  I  will  ask 
him  what  is  best  to  be  done.  In  the  meantime 
you  must  keep  away  from  your  enemies  as  much 
as  possible." 

With  these  words  the  rabbit  sprang  into  a  low 
bush  and  disappeared,  leaving  John  Dough  to  sad 
reflections  upon  his  dangerous  position  in  this 
lonely  island. 

Soon  after  daybreak  next  morning,  while  Chick 
and  the  Princess  were  out  hunting  berries  for  their 
breakfast,  John  went  for  a  walk  along  the  shore, 
and  so  engrossed  did  he  become  in  his  thoughts 
that  he  did  not  notice  when  a  band  of  Mifkets 
stole  upon  him  from  behind  and  threw  a  coil 
of  stout  rope  around  his  shoulders.  Before  he 
realized  his  misfortune  he  was  bound  fast  with 
many  turns  of  the  rope.  Then  he  found  that  he 
had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  his  old  enemy,  Black 
Ooboo ;  but  the  Arab,  to  his  great  relief,  was  not 
with  the  party  that  had  captured  him. 

Shouting  with  glee  at  the  capture  of  the  ginger- 
bread man,  the  Mifkets  led  him  away  through  the 
forest  paths  until  they  arrived  at  the  clearing 
wherein  the  King  lazily  reclined  upon  his  flat 
rock. 

221 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


Ooboo  at  once  awoke  the  aged  ruler,  who  sat 
up  and  said  in  a  weary  tone : 

"  Have  you  taken  the  stranger  prisoner,  as  I 
commanded  ? ' 

"We  have,"  answered  the  black  one. 

John  Dough  was  very  indignant  at  the  treat- 
ment he  had  received,  so  he  addressed  the  King 
angrily,  saying: 

"  By  what  right  do  you  command  me  to  be 
bound  in  this  disgraceful  manner  ?  Did  you  not 
give  me  permission  to  live  among  you  in  peace  ?" 

"  I  am  a  king,  and  the  promises  of  kings  should 
never  be  relied  upon,"  said  the  old  Mifket, 
winking  slyly  at  his  prisoner.  "  Since  I  first  saw 
you  the  Arab  has  arrived,  and  he  tells  us  that  the 
material  you  are  made  of  is  very  good  to  eat." 

"  Can    the    Arab    understand    your   language  ? ' 
asked  John,  in  surprise. 

"  It  seems  so,"  answered  the  King.  "  In  some 
parts  of  Arabia  the  people  speak  exactly  as  we  do ; 
so  the  Arabs  are  probably  descended  from  our 
race.  Anyhow,  Ali  Dubh  understands  us  and  we 
understand  him,  and  we  've  decided  to  have  a  bite 
of  you  before  he  can  eat  you  himself." 

This  was  disturbing  news  to  the  gingerbread 
man,  and  he  stood  before  the  King  wondering  how 

222 


THE    MIFKETS    RECAPTURE    JOHN 


223 


B    1 


O 


O 


O 


he  might  escape  from  this  awkward  situation  when 
the  black  Mifket,  who  was  squatting  beside  him, 
opened  his  mouth  and  bit  off  the  thumb  from 
John's  left  hand,  which  was  tightly  bound  to  his 
side. 

"How    does    is    taste,    Ooboo  ?  '      inquired    the 

King,  while  the  black  one 
was  chewing  the  thumb. 

"I  can't  exactly  describe 
the     flavor,"    said    Ooboo, 
boldly  biting  off  the  fore- 
finger of  the  hand. 

John   was   enraged 
at  this  dreadful  treat- 
ment,   and    his    glass 
eyes    had    a    dan- 
gerous    flash    in 
It    didn't* 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


pain  him  especially,  for  he  had  no  nerves;  but  to 
be  chewed  up  by  a  common  forest  Mifket  was  a 
liberty  that  any  gingerbread  man  might  well  resent. 

"  Seems  to  me  there 's  molasses  in  him,"  said 
Ooboo,  with  a  wink  at  the  King,  and  immediately 
he  bit  off  another  finger  and  ate  it.  "  Also  a  bit 
of  ginger,"  he  continued,  calmly,  eating  the  next 
finger.  "  And  spices."  Another  finger  was  gone. 
"  It  is  n't  exactly  cake,  and  it  is  n't  exactly  bread," 
the  black  one  proceeded,  smacking  his  lips;  "but 
it's  pretty  good,  whatever  it  is";  and  with  that  he 
ate  the  last  finger  remaining  on  John's  left  hand. 

The  King  was  no  longer  sleepy.  He  had  be- 
come quite  interested,  and  the  circle  of  Mifkets 
that  stood  silently  back  of  John  were  looking  at 
their  victim  with  hungry  eyes. 

"  Bring  him  here  to  me,"  said  the  King.  "  I  '11 
eat  the  other  hand  and  see  what  it's  like." 

Ooboo  immediately  pushed  the  prisoner  toward 
the  rock;  but  John  was  now  terribly  frightened, 
and  had  made  up  his  mind  not  to  allow  the  rest 
of  his  body  to  be  eaten  without  a  struggle  to  save 
himself.  So  he  suddenly  exerted  all  the  strength 
the  Great  Elixir  had  given  him,  and  burst  his  rope 
bonds  as  easily  as  if  they  had  been  threads.  At 
the  same  instant  the  Arab  leaped  into  the  group 

225 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


that  surrounded  the  throne  and  placed  himself 
between  the  King  and  John  Dough. 

"  Stop  !  "  he  screamed,  his  voice  shrill  with  anger. 
"How  dare  you  eat  the  gingerbread  I  have  bought 
and  paid  for  ? " 

"There's  enough  for  all,"  said  the  King.  "We'll 
divide  him  up,  and  have  a  feast." 

"Not  so!"  shouted  the  Arab.  "He's  mine,  and 
mine  alone ! ' 

But  while  they  were  thus  quarreling  the  ginger- 
bread man,  free  of  his  bonds,  turned  and  fled 
swiftly  into  the  forest,  and  before  the  Mifkets  or 
Ali  Dubh  knew  he  had  gone  their  intended  victim 
was  far  away. 

Chick  was  very  indignant  when  John  Dough 
entered  the  tree  house  and  showed  his  mutilated 
hand. 

"You  ought  to  stay  near  me  every  minute,"  said 
the  Cherub,  "  so  I  can  take  care  of  you  and  keep 
you  from  getting  into  trouble.  If  this  thing  keeps 
on,  John  Dough,  you  won't  be  able  to  present  a 
respectable  appearance." 

"I  know  it,"  said  John,  sadly.  "I'd  escape  in 
that  little  boat  on  the  beach;  only,  if  a  rain-storm 
came  up,  there 'd  be  no  shelter  and  I'd  become 
soaked  and  fall  to  pieces." 

226 


"HE'S    MINE,    AND    MINE    ALONE! 


227 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


"It  isn't  our  boat,  either,"  said  Chick.  "It 
belongs  to  the  father  and  mother  of  the  little 
Princess,  and  they  may  want  to  use  it  themselves, 
some  day,  to  escape  in." 

"That's  true,"  said  John.  "How  is  the  Prin- 
cess to-day  ? 

"She's  worse,"  answered  Chick.  "Seems  to  me 
she  gets  weaker  and  more  delicate  every  day." 

"That's  what  the  rubber  bear  says,"  John  re- 
marked, thoughtfully. 

"  See  here,"  said  the  child,  "  that  gingerbread  of 
yours  is  full  of  strength  and  power,  isn't  it?  ' 

"  That 's  what  Ali  Dubh  says,"  John  responded. 
"  The  Elixir  that  I  am  mixed  with  is  claimed  to  be 
very  powerful." 

"And  it's  true,"  declared  Chick,  "for  I've  seen 
you  do  things  no  gingerbread  man  could  ever  do 
without  some  magic  Elixir  being  mixed  up  with 
him.  Well,  then,  why  don't  you,  let  the  Princess 
eat  the  rest  of  your  left  hand,  and  get  well  ?  The 
hand  is  n't  any  use  to  you  since  Black  Ooboo  ate 
off  the  fingers." 

John  i^oked  at  his  left  hand  nervously. 

"What  you  say,  Chick,  appears  to  be  true,"  said 
he;  "but  you've  no  idea  how  I  dread  to  be  eaten. 
I  'm  not  very  substantial  at  the  best,  and  during 

228 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


my  brief  lifetime  I  Ve  been  crumbled  and  chipped 
and  bitten  to  such  an  extent  that  I  dread  to  lose 
even  a  crumb  of  my  person  more  than  is  absolutely 
necessary.  Of  course  I  'd  like  to  help  the  Princess, 
and  restore  her  to  health  and  strength;  but 
perhaps  we  can  find  some  better  way  to  do  that 
than  to  feed  her  on  my  gingerbread." 

"Very  well,  John  Dough,"  said  the  Cherub, 
getting  up  to  go  to  the  Princess,  "  I  suppose  you 
can  do  as  you  please  about  feeding  yourself  to  your 
friends ;  but  if  /  was  gingerbread  you  can  just  bet 
I  wouldn't  be  so  stingy  with  myself!' 

Left  alone,  John  sighed  and  wondered  if  it  was 
really  his  duty  to  sacrifice  his  left  hand  to  save  the 
frail  little  girl  and  restore  her  to  strength  and 
health.  He  wanted  to  be  kind  and  generous,  yet 
the  very  thought  of  being  eaten  filled  him  with 
horror. 

Presently  he  left  the  tree  house  and  wandered 
along  the  coast.  Chick's  rebuke  disturbed  him 
not  a  little,  and  he  wanted  time  to  think  it  over. 
So  by  and  by,  when  he  thought  he  was  alone,  he 
sat  down  upon  a  rock  and  tried  to  decide  what  to 
do.  Suddenly  a  low  rustle  disturbed  him,  and  he 
looked  up  to  see  the  brown  bear  squatting  beside 
him. 

229 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


"Where's  the  Princess?'     asked  Para  Bruin. 

"  Are  n't  you  a  good  way  from  your  mountain  ? ' 
inquired  John,  instead  of  answering  the  question. 

"  Yes,  I  don't  often  stray  so  far,"  was  the  reply, 
"  but  I  had  an  idea  of  calling  on  the  Princess. 
Where  is  she  ? ' 

"She's  sick  to-day,"  said  the  gingerbread  man. 

"That's  bad,"  declared  the  bear,  shaking  his 
head  sadly.  "  She  seems  to  be  failing  every  day. 
Poor  little  Princess !  ' 

John  moved  uneasily,  for  every  word  was  a 
reproach  to  him. 

"  How  are  you  getting  on   with   the  Mifkets  ?  ' 
asked  Para  Bruin. 

"  They  made  me  a  prisoner  this  morning,  and 
abused  me  shamefully,"  said  the  gingerbread  man. 
"See  here!  "  and  he  held  up  the  stump  of  his  left 
hand. 

"  What  has  become  of  your  fingers  ? ' 

"A  black  Mifket  named  Ooboo  bit  them  off 
and  ate  them,"  was  the  answer. 

"That's  curious,"  said  the  bear,  rubbing  his 
nose  thoughtfully  with  one  paw.  "  Do  you  know, 
the  Mifkets  had  an  exciting  time  an  hour  ago  ?  I 
watched  them  from  my  mountain,  and  saw  every- 
thing. Black  Ooboo  had  a  fight  with  the  King 

230 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


and  knocked  him  off  his  rock.  That's  really  sur- 
prising, for  Ooboo  has  always  before  been  a 
coward,  and  afraid  of  the  King.  But  now  he  has 
declared  he'll  be  king  himself,  and  offers  to  fight 
any  one  who  opposes  him.  Isn't  that  funny?  I 
don't  know  where  Black  Ooboo  got  so  much 
courage  and  strength  all  of  a  sudden,  I  Im  sure." 

"I  know,"  said  John.  "He  got  it  from  my 
fingers,  which  he  ate.  My  dough  is  mixed  with 
the  Great  Elixir,  you  know,  which  is  nothing  less 
than  concentrated  energy  and  strength  and  vitality 
and  knowledge.  The  fingers  have  made  Ooboo 
the  most  powerful  Mifket  in  the  island,  so  it  is  no 
wonder  he  has  become  king." 

Para  Bruin  listened  to  this  carefully,  and  after  a 
moment's  thought  he  said: 

"  If  that  is  the  case,  John  Dough,  you  must  feed 

7    J  D      '    J 

some  of  yourself  to  the  Princess  to  make  her 
strong  again." 

"That's  what  Chick  says;  but  I  don't  like  to 
do  it,"  said  John. 

"You  will  do  it,  though,"  said  the  bear;  "for  if 
you  don't  you  are  no  friend  of  mine,  or  of  any 
other  honest  person.  I'm  going  back  to  my 
mountain,  and  if  you  don't  save  the  little  Princess 
I  '11  never  speak  to  you  again." 

231 


B    1 


a 


O 


O 


O       O 


Away  stalked  Para  Bruin,  and  John  Dough  arose 
with  a  sigh  and  walked  far  into  the  forest,  trying 
to  make  up  his  mind  what  to  do.  He  came  to 
the  bank  of  the  brook  presently,  and  seating  him- 
self upon  a  fence  beside  the  stream  gazed  into  the 
rushing  water  in  deep  thought.  From  the  distance 
came  the  roar  of  water  falling  over  the  big  dam 
which  the  beavers  had  built,  and  once  or  twice  a 
Mifket  strayed  that  way  and  looked  curiously  at 
the  silent  figure  of  the  gingerbread  man.  But 
they  had  orders  from  the  Arab  and  Ooboo  not  to 


232 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


disturb  him,  so  they  crept  away  again  and  joined 
their  fellows  among  the  giant  plants. 

A  long  time  John  Dough  sat  there  by  the 
stream,  until  suddenly  he  was  aroused  from  his 
musings  by  a  shriek  of  discordant  laughter  behind 
him. 

"Ho,  ho,  ho!  What  an  absurd  thing!  Who'd 
ever  have  thought  it  ? ' 

He  turned  around  and  saw  a  gorgeous  macaw 
standing  on  a  log  back  of  him.  The  bird  was  all 
aglow  with  crimson  and  green  feathers,  and  its 
black  eyes  twinkled  mischievously,  while  contin- 
uous shouts  of  laughter  came  from  its  ruffled 
throat. 

"Keep  still,  can't  you?'  said  John,  in  an 
annoyed  tone.  "What  are  you  laughing  at, 
anyway  ?" 

The  bird  pushed  its  head  underneath  a  wing 
and  shook  with  suppressed  mirth. 

"Oh  dear!  It's  too  funny  for  anything!  What 
a  lark  —  hoo,  hoo,  hoo!  What  a  lark  it  is !  ' 

Its  voice  was  somewhat  smothered  by  the 
feathers,  but  John  heard  every  word,  and  it  made 
him  angry. 

"You're  a  rampsy,  that's  what  you  are!'  he 
cried. 

233 


B    1 


O 


o 


O       O 


"  There    are    two    of 


us 


two   of   us  —  two  of 


us ! '  shrieked  the  macaw,  hopping  around  and 
fluttering  its  brilliant  plumage.  "Honestly,  my 
dear  breakfast,  I  never  had  so  much  fun  in  my 
life ! " 

John    turned   his    head  and  looked   at    the    bird 

earnestly. 

"Why  do  you  call 
me  your  'dear  break- 
fast'?" he  asked,  with 
sudden  suspicion. 
"Because    that's 


what 


you  are,  my  poor 
innocent!  Ha, 
ha,  ha!  Break- 
fast is  ready ! ' 
The  bird 
made  a  quick 
thrust  with  its 
beak,  and  the 
next  moment 
fluttered  around 
in  front  of  John 
with  its  mouth 
full  of  ginger- 
bread. 


234 


Black         O     o 


o     o 


Our  hero  quickly  stood  up  and  put  his  right 
hand  behind  him.  The  baker  had  made  two  little 
coat  tails  at  the  back  of  his  waist,  and  as  John  felt 
for  them  he  found  that  the  thieving  macaw  had 
eaten  both  of  these  coat  tails  entirely  off,  while  he 
had  sat  upon  the  log  thinking. 

"How  stupid  I  am!'  he  exclaimed,  with  real 
grief.  "  I  might  have  given  those  coat  tails  to  the 

Princess,   and   now   this   silly   bird   has    eaten   them 

I  •>•> 
up ! 

"  I  said  you  were  a  chump ! v  remarked  the 
macaw,  winking,  and  then  laughing  again.  "  The 
idea  of  your  sitting  there  and  letting  me  eat  you! 
I  never  had  so  much  fun  in  all  my  life." 

Just  then  a  great  chattering  reached  his  ears, 
and  looking  around,  he  found  that  a  numerous 
band  of  the  fierce  Mifkets  had  stolen  upon  him, 
and  were  now  coming  forward  armed  with  huge 
clubs  which  they  had  broken  from  the  forest  plants, 
and  which  were  as  solid  and  heavy  as  the  branches 
of  trees. 

"Surrender!"  cried  the  leader,  knowing  that  the 
gingerbread  man  understood  their  language;  "King 
Ooboo  wants  you  for  his  luncheon,  and  Ali  Dubh 
is  also  hungry." 

For  a  moment  John  Dough  was  most  frightened. 

235 


Black          O     o 


o     o 


It  was  not  likely  that  his  strength  would  enable 
him  to  escape  from  so  many  of  his  enemies,  and  he 
almost  gave  himself  up  for  lost.  For  before  him 
was  the  stream  'of  water  —  almost  as  deadly  to  him 
as  the  close  ranks  of  the  Mifkets  behind  him.  The 
macaw  was  strutting  up  and  down  beside  him,  and 
at  his  look  of  despair  the  bird  said: 

"You're  surely  in  a  bad  way,  my  friend;  but  I 
believe  I  can  save  you.  When  I  fly  up,  grab  my 
feet,  and  I  '11  carry  you  away  to  your  dwelling." 

"You!'  he  exclaimed,  gazing  at  the  bird  in 
surprise;  "you  are  by  no  means  big  enough  to  fly 
away  with  me." 

"  Size  does  n't  count  for  much,"  chuckled  the 
macaw;  "and  since  I  breakfasted  off  your  coat- 
tails  I  feel  myself  to  be  as  strong  as  an  ox.  Just 
grab  my  legs,  as  I  tell  you  to." 

John  decided  that  it  was  worth  attempting,  be- 
ing the  only  thing  to  do.  The  Mifkets  were  press- 
ing closer,  and  soon  he  would  be  within  reach  of 
their  clubs.  So,  as  the  macaw  flew  into  the  air 
John  grasped  its  legs  with  his  right  hand  (which  was 
the  only  hand  that  had  fingers'),  and,  sure  enough, 
the  strength  of  the  little  bird  was  so  great  that  it 
easily  drew  him  up  into  the  air,  high  above  the 
heads  of  his  chattering  and  disappointed  foes. 

236 


B    I 


O 


O 


O 


"Fooled  again,"  cried  the  macaw;  but  of  course 
the  Mifkets  did  not  understand  the  words.  Away 
over  the  tops  of  the  giant  plants  flew  the  bird,  with 
John  Dough  clinging  to  its  legs,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  it  gradually  descended  again  and  landed  the 
gingerbread  man  safely  before  the  door  of  his  own 
dwelling. 

"  Don't  thank  me, "  said  the  macaw,  turning 
toward  him  one  black  eye,  in  a  saucy  manner,  and 
winking  comically. 
"  I  ate  part  of  you 
for  my  breakfast, 
and  feel  greatly 
refreshed.  Were  it 
not  for  the  Arab 
I'd  hope  to  get 
another  meal  off 
you,  but  between 


the    Arab    and 
Mifkets    you  're 
not  likely  to  last 
long.      Good 
bye." 

And  then  it 
flew  away  into 
the  forest. 


the 


237 


Chick  met  him  at  the  door. 

"There's  less  of  you  than  ever,"  said  the  child, 
looking  him  over  carefully.  "Your  coat  tails  are 
gone  now." 

"Yes,"  said  the  gingerbread  man,  "a  macaw  ate 
them  a  few  minutes  ago.  But  there  will  be  even 
less  of  me  in  another  minute.  Have  you  a  knife, 
Chick?" 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  asked  the  Cherub, 
with  sudden  interest. 

"  I  'm  going  to  save  the  Princess  before  I'm  gone 
entirely,"  said  John,  with  decision.  "  Not  that  I 
have  overcome  my  dislike  to  being  eaten,  you 
understand,  but  if  a  black  Mifket  and  a  foolish 
bird  find  it  so  easy  to  feast  upon  my  person,  Ali 
Dubh  rs^  sure  to  get  me  in  time,  and  before  that 
happens  I  want  to  do  one  good  deed,  and  help  the 
little  girl  to  regain  her  strength  and  health." 

"  Good !  "  exclaimed  Chick,  approvingly.   "You  're 

238 


Under    Land    and    Water 

all  right,  John  Dough,  even  if  it  did  take  you  a 
long  time  to  make  up  your  mind.  But  we  haven't 
any  knife." 

"What  shall  we  do?"  John  asked,  anxiously. 

"Can't  we  break  off  a  chunk  of  you?"  the 
Cherub  inquired. 

"  No ! "  replied  the  man,  with  a  shudder. 

"Wait  a  minute!'  cried  Chick,  "I've  an 
idea." 

Away  trotted  the  chubby  legs,  and  presently 
the  child  returned  with  a  long,  slender  leaf,  plucked 
from  one  of  the  strange  forest  plants. 

"  This '11  saw  gingerbread  all  right,  I'm  sure. 
Hold  out  your  hand,  John  Dough! ' 

John  turned  away  his  head  and  held  out  his  left 
hand  —  the  one  from  which  Black  Ooboo  had 
eaten  the  finger. 

"There!  It's  all  over.  Did  it  hurt?"  asked 
Chick. 

"  No."  John  looked  at  the  arm  where  his  hand 
had  been. 

"It  is  n't  much  worse  than  it  was  before,"  said 
the  child.  "You'll  never  miss  it  in  the  world. 
Now  wait  here  while  I  go  to  the  Princess." 

After  Chick  had  vanished  into  the  girl's  dwelling 
the  gingerbread  man  gave  a  sigh  of  relief. 

239 


Under    Land    and    Water 

"It  wasn't  as  bad  as  I  feared,"  he  said  to  him- 
self; "but  I'm  glad  the  ordeal  is  over.  If  I  take 
good  care  of  myself  hereafter,  and  manage  to 
escape  from  Ali  Dubh,  I  can  get  along  very  well 
without  the  gingerbread  I  have  lost." 

The  Princess  slept  sweetly  that  night,  after  her 
supper  of  gingerbread,  and  the  next  morning  was 
so  fresh  and  bright,  and  had  so  pretty  a  color  to 
her  cheeks,  that  Chick  hugged  her  delightedly, 
and  John  Dough  was  proud  and  glad  to  think  his 
small  sacrifice  had  wrought  such  good  results. 
Together  they  strolled  into  the  forest,  along 


r\    . 
cji  s  ^ 


240 


Under    Land    and    Water 

the  banks  of  the  stjeam,  and  presently  met 
Pittypat. 

"  Be  careful  where  you  go,"  said  the  rabbit,  in  a 
worried  tone.  "  The  Arab  is  after  John  Dough, 
and  I  hear  that  Black  Ooboo  has  determined  to 
destroy  the  little  man  with  the  red  whiskers  and 
the  fat  woman  with  the  corkscrew  curls,  who  are 
the  father  and  mother  of  our  Princess." 

"  Are  you  sure  ? '  asked  the  girl,  clasping  her 
hands  in  real  terror. 

"  There 's  no  doubt  of  it,"  Pittypat  replied. 
"  And  I  'm  not  sure  but  the  Princess  will  share  their 
fate»  These  are  troublous  times,  since  the  Arab 
arrived  and  Black  Ooboo  became  king." 

"  There 's  the  boat,"  said  Chick,  turning  to  the 
girl;  "can't  your  parents  escape  in  that?" 

"  They  have  always  said  they  would  use  the 
boat  to  leave  the  island,  if  there  was  any  danger," 
answered  the  Princess.  "  But  the  ocean  is  so 
big  and  the  boat  so  very  little  that  they  did  not 
like  to  make  such  a  voyage  unless  it  became 
necessary." 

"Well,  it  seems  to  be  necessary  now,"  said  John. 
"  But  what  will  become  of  the  rest  of  us  ?  The 
boat  will  only  hold  two." 

"It  might  hold  me  as  well  as   my  parents,  if  the 

241 


Under    Land    and    Water 

water  was  calm,"  said  the.  girl ;  "  but  I  will  not 
escape  and  leave  you  and  Chick  to  your  fate. 
Unless  we  can  find  some  way  to  save  us  all  I  will 
let  my  parents  escape  alone  in  the  boat." 

"That's  foolish,"  said  Chick.  "You  go  in  the 
boat.  John  Dough  and  I  will  get  along  all  right." 

But  this  the  Princess  refused  to  do,  and  after 
a  long  discussion  the  rabbit  decided  to  go  and 
consult  a  gray  owl  which  was  renowned  for  its 
wisdom.  The  others  walked  up  to  Para  Bruin's 
cave,  and  the  first  thing  the  bear  said  was: 

"  Look  out  for  yourselves.  Black  Ooboo  has 
ordered  all  the  humans  on  this  island  to  be  killed, 
and  the  Mifkets  are  arming  themselves  with  long 
sticks,  to  which  they  have  bound  sharp  thorns  torn 
from  a  tree  in  the  forest.  The  gingerbread  man  is 
to  be  eaten,  I  understand;  so  there's  likely  to  be 
an  end  of  all  of  you,  very  soon." 

"  Is  there  no  way  to  escape  ?  "  asked  John. 

"  None  that  I  can  think  of,"  said  the  bear. 
"  But  you  can  depend  upon  my  assistance,  if  there 
is  anything  I  can  do.  How  well  the  Princess  looks 
to-dayt' 

"Yes,"  answered  John,  proudly;  "she's  been 
eating  some  of  my  gingerbread." 

Hearing  this,    Para   Bruin  gave  John   a  grateful 

242 


Under    Land    and    Water 

hug;  and  then  he  hugged  the  Princess  and  even 
Chick,  so  happy  did  the  bear  feel  at  the  girl's 
recovery. 

Then  he  bounced  for  them  several  times,  rolling 
himself  down  hill  against  the  flat  rock  and  then 
bounding  high  into  the  air.  But  the  little  Princess 
was  worried  and  anxious  about  her  parents,  so  the 
party  soon  bade  good  bye  to  Para  Bruin  and 
started  to  return  to  their  dwellings. 

The  forest  seemed  very  quiet  and  peaceful  as 
they  walked  along,  and  they  had  almost  forgotten 
their  fears,  when,  just  as  they  reached  the  banks  of 
the  brook,  a  sudden  sound  of  shouting  fell  upon 
their  ears,  mingled  with  the  wail  of  human  voices. 

"Oh,  dear!'  cried  the  little  Princess,  wring- 
ing her  hands  in  great  fear;  "the  Mifkets  have 
attacked  my  dear  parents,  I  am  sure,  and  they 
will  both  be  killed!" 

John  strove  to  comfort  her,  but  he  suspected 
that  the  Princess  had  guessed  truly,  and  that  her 
parents  were  in  great  danger.  They  dared  not 
return  to  the  seashore,  for  that  would  mean  their 
own  destruction;  so  they  remained  hidden  in  the 
forest,  while  the  Princess  sobbed  as  if  her  heart 
was  broken,  and  John  wiped  away  her  tears  with 
her  handkerchief.  He  had  one  of  his  own; 

«- 

243 


Under    Land    and    Water 


but  it  was  gingerbread,   and   would  not  stand   the 
dampness. 

Suddenly  they  heard  pattering  footfalls,  and  the 
white  rabbit  crouched  at  their  feet.  He  was  pant- 
ing from  a  hard  run,  and  his  eyes  were  big  and 
bright. 

"  They  are  gone ! '  said  he,  as  soon  as  he  could 
speak. 

"Who  are  gone?"  asked  John,  anxiously. 
"  The  red-whiskered  man  and  the  woman  with 
the  corkscrew  curls,"  replied  Pittypat.   "The  Mitkets 

chased  them 
to  the  shore, 
but  they 
jumped  into 
the  boat  and 
rowed  away 
in  time  to 
escape.  The 
Mifkets  threw 
sticks  at 
them  and 
Black  Ooboo 
screamed  with 
rage;  but  the 
father  and 


244 


mother   of  our    Princess    got   away    without    being 
hurt  in  the  least." 

This  good  news  greatly  pleased  the  girl,  and 
her  anxiety  was  much  relieved.  But  the  ginger- 
bread man  had  become  thoughtful,  and  asked 
Pittypat: 

"What  are  the  Mifkets  doing  now." 

"They  are  getting  ready  to  search  the  forest  for 
you  and  Chick  and  the  Princess,"  was  the  reply. 
"  The  Arab  is  with  them." 

"  This  is  certainly  unpleasant  news,"  remarked 
the  gingerbread  man.  "  Did  the  gray  owl  tell  you 
how  we  may  escape  ? ' 

"  The  owl  sent  me  to  the  King  of  the  Fairy 
Beavers,"  replied  the  rabbit,  "  and  he  has  consented 
to  hide  you  in  his  palace.  It  is  a  rare  favor,  I 
assure  you ;  but  the  Mifkets  cannot  reach  you 
there." 

"A  Fairy  Beaver!"  cried  Chick,  gleefully;  and 
the  Princess  asked,  wonderingly:  "Can  a  beaver 
be  a  fairy  ? " 

"Why  not?"  inquired  Pittypat.  "All  the  ani- 
mals have  their  fairies,  just  as  you  human  folks  do; 
and  it  is  lucky  for  us  that  the  Fairy  Beaver  lives  on 
this  very  island.  There  is  only  one  danger- — that 
the  Mifkets  find  you  before  I  can  lead  you  to  the 

245 


Under    Land    and    Water 

Beaver  King.  So  follow  me  at  once,  I  implore 
you,  before  it  is  too  late  ! ' 

He  turned,  with  these  words,  and  led  them 
along  the  river  bank  at  such  a  swift  pace  that  the 
Princess  could  hardly  keep  up  with  him. 

"How  far  is  it?"   asked  John. 

"  The  palace  of  the  beavers  is  somewhere  under 
the  big  dam  in  the  river,  which  is  not  far  away. 
The  King  promised  to  meet  us  at  the  waterfall; 
but  he  will  not  allow  me  to  enter,  because  I  am 
a  .rabbit,  so  you  must  go  in  alone.  But  have  no 
fear.  The  King  will  allow  nothing  to  harm  you." 

As  Pittypat  spoke  they  could  hear  the  distant 
roar  of  the  waterfall  at  the  beavers'  dam.  But 
another  sound  also  fell  upon  their  ears  —  a  sound 
that  quickly  renewed  their  terror  —  for  it  was  the 
yells  of  the  approaching  Mifkets.  Presently  the 
fierce  creatures  appeared,  coming  swiftly  through 
the  forest. 

"Hurry!'  called  Pittypat.  "Hurry,  or  it  will 
be  too  late ! ' 

John  picked  up  a'  great  wooden  club  that  lay 
near  their  path,  and  while  Chick  and  the  Princess 
hurried  after  the  rabbit  he  stopped  and  hurled  it 
toward  the  Mifkets.  It  fell  among  them  with  such 
force  that  several  were  knocked  over  and  many 

246 


Under    Land    and    Water 

others  howled  with  pain.  It  did  not  prevent  them 
from  coming  on,  but  they  kept  at  a  more  respect- 
ful distance  from  the  gingerbread  man,  never 
doubting  they  would  be  able  to  capture  him  in 
time. 

"This  way!  "  cried  the  rabbit,  leaping  down  the 
bank  to  the  side  of  the  river,  where  they  could 
travel  more  swiftly. 

The  others  followed,  and  now  before  them 
appeared  a  wide  and  high  sheet  of  water  that  fell 
over  the  great  dam  that  the  beavers  had  built  many 
years  before.  They  had  almost  reached  it,  and 
Pittypat  had  called  out  that  he  saw  the  Beaver 
King  waiting  behind  the  waterfall,  when  the  fugi- 
tives stopped  short  with  cries  of  despair.  For  just 
before  them  appeared  another  band  of  Mifkets, 
armed  with  the  thorn  sticks,  and  now  they  saw  that 
they  would  be  unable  to  reach  their  place  of 
refuge. 

John  looked  around  in  desperation.  There  were 
Mifkets  behind  them  and  Mifkets  before  them; 
and  on  one  side  was  the  deep  river,  and  on  the 
other  side  a  steep  bank  too  high  for  the  children 
to  climb.  It  really  seemed  to  the  gingerbread  man 
that  they  were  lost,  when  suddenly  a  cry  was  heard, 
and  looking  upward  he  saw  Para  Bruin  standing 

248 


Under    Land    and    Water 


upon  his  high  peak  and  watching  them.  The  bear 
doubtless  saw  the  danger  of  his  friends,  for  he 
called  to  them: 

"Look    out  —  I'm     coming    to     the     rescue!' 
Then    he    quickly    curled    his    great    body    into    a 
monster   ball   and  rolled  swiftly  down  the   side   of 
the  mountain  that  faced  them. 

The  Mifkets  who  were  near  the  waterfall  turned 
curiously  to  watch  the 
bear.      They  had  often 
seen  him  roll  against  the 
flat    stone    and    bound 
back  to  his  place  again, 
and  thought  he  would 
do    the    same 
thing    now. 
But    old    Para 
Bruin      was 
more     clever 
than       they 
suspected. 
He  missed  the 
flat  stone  alto- 
ge  th  er    and 
came     bound- 
ing along  at  a 


249 


Under    Land    and    Water 

terrific  speed.  Before  the  group  of  Mifkets,  who 
stood  close  together  near  the  waterfall,  knew  what 
the  bear  meant  to  do,  old  Para's  body  shot  upon 
them  and  dashed  them  in  every  direction.  Some 
lay  stunned  upon  the  ground;  but  most  of  them 
were  tumbled  into  the  river,  where  they  struggled 
frantically  to  regain  the  shore. 

"Quick!"  cried  Pittypat,  "your  friend  has  saved 
you.  But  do  not  lose  an  instant's  time!' 

The  children  and  the  gingerbread  man  obeyed 
at  once,  and  in  a  few  steps  reached  the  waterfall. 

"  Creep  behind  the  sheet  of  water!  "  commanded 
the  rabbit.  "You  will  find  the  Beaver  King  await- 
ing you.  Do  as  he  tells  you,  and  I  promise  that 
you  will  be  safe." 

"  Good  bye,  Pittypat ! '  called  the  Princess,  as 
she  clung  to  the  damp  rocks  behind  the  waterfall. 

"Good  bye!'  echoed  Chick.  "Much  obliged 
to  you,  Pittypat! ' 

"  Good  bye ! '  answered  the  white  rabbit. 
"Don't  forget  me." 

Then  he  whisked  away,  and  John  Dough,  shrink- 
ing as  far  from  the  spray  as  possible,  crept  under 
the  waterfall  and  followed  after  the  little  ones. 


250 


"CREEP    BEHIND    THE    SHEET    OF    WATER" 


251 


The  Mifkets  uttered  cries  of  rage  as  they  ob- 
served the  escape  of  their  intended  victims,  and 
rushed  forward  to  follow  them.  But  immediately 
a  great  flood  of  water  began  falling  just  at  the 
place  where  the  children  and  John  had  entered, 
and  as  the  Mifkets  recoiled  from  this  new  danger 
our  friends  heard  a  soft  voice  say,  with  a  little 
laugh : 

"They  will  not  dare  to  follow  you  now.  Come 
with  me,  and  be  careful  not  to  slip." 

John  looked  down,  and  saw  a  handsome  beaver 
standing  beside  him.  His  fur  was  the  color  of 
silver,  and  upon  his  head  was  a  tiny  golden  crown 
set  with  jewels  so  bright  and  sparkling  that  the 
rays  lighted  the  dim  place  like  so  many  sunbeams. 
The  Beaver  King's  face  was  calm  and  dignified,  and 
his  eyes  kindly  and  intelligent.  Without  further 
speecrPhe  led  the  way  far  under  the  roaring  water- 
fall; and  the  space  between  the  dark  wall  of  the 
dam  and  the  sheet  of  water  was  so  narrow  that  the 
air  was  filled  with  a  fine  spray,  which  moistened 

252 


T  h 


airy 


B 


e  a  v  e  r  s 


John's  gingerbread  in  a  way  that  caused  him  great 
uneasiness. 

But,  lighted  by  the  radiance  of  the  King  Beaver's 
crown,  they  soon  came  to  a  place  directly  under 
the  center  of  the  fall,  and  here  their  conductor 
halted  and  tapped  three  times  upon  the  surface  of 
the  wall.  It  opened  instantly,  disclosing  a  broad 
passage,  and  through  this  the  King  led  them,  the 
wall  closing  just  behind  them  as  they  entered. 

The  noise  of  the  waterfall  now  sounded  but 
dimly  in  their  ears,  and  presently  they  emerged 
into  a  large  vaulted  room,  which  was  so  beautiful 
that  the  little  Princess  clasped  her  hands  with  a 
long-drawn  sigh  of  delight,  Chick  laughed,  and 
John  removed  from  his  head  the  crumpled  and 
soiled  silk  hat  that  he  had  clung  to  ever  since  he 
had  left  the  bakery. 

He  had  seen  beautiful  rooms  in  the  Island  of 
Romance,  but  nothing  there 
could  compare  with  the  mag- 
nificence and  grandeur  of  this 
hall  of  the  Fairy  Beaver's 
palace.  The  walls  were  set 
thick  with  brilliant  jewels, 
arranged  in  a  way  that 
formed  exquisite  pictures,  all 


253 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

of  these  borrowing  color  from  the  natural  tints 
of  the  gems.  The  ceiling  was  clustered  with  tiny 
glass  globes,  in  each  of  which  was  a  captured 
sunbeam;  and  these  lent  a  charming  radiance  to 
the  splendid  room.  Many  cushions  were  strewn 
upon  the  floor,  and  the  floor  itself  was  of  gold, 
richly  engraved  with  scenes  depicting  the  lives  and 
adventures  of  beavers. 

While  our  friends  admired  the  loveliness  of  the 
Hall  of  the  Beavers,  the  silver-furred  King  spoke 
again,  in  his  soft  voice : 

"You  are  now  underneath  the  deep  water 
formed  by  our  dam,  which  was  built  by  the 
beavers  who  were  our  forefathers  many  years  ago, 
and  which  has  endured  until  now.  But  in  all  the 
years  of  its  existence  the  little  Princess  and  the 
Incubator  Baby  are  the  first  human  beings  to  be 
admitted  to  our  fairy  palace.  Your  companion,  my 
dears,  is  merely  gingerbread,  and  lives  by  means  of 
fairy  powers  that  make  him  a  fit  comrade  for  fairies 
the  world  over." 

"It  was  very  good  of  you  to  save  us  from  the 
Mifkets,  and  we  are  grateful,"  said  the  girl. 

"You  're  all  right!"  added  Chick,  emphatically. 

"  I  am  glad  to  be  of  service  to  one  so  sweet  and 
beautiful,"  returned  the  King,  with  a  dignified  bow 

254 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

toward  the  Princess,  "and  to  one  so  merry  and 
frank,"  he  continued,  turning  to  Chick.  "And 
now,  if  you  will  kindly  follow  me,  I  will  show  you 
the  rooms  of  my  palace,  and  introduce  you  to  my 
people.  You  must  be  content  to  remain  my  guests 
until  I  can  find  means  to  restore  you  to  the  free- 
dom of  the  upper  world  in  which  you  are  accus- 
tomed to  exist. 

He  led  them  through  the  gorgeous  hall  and 
along  delightful  passages  into  various  rooms.  Some 
were  large  and  some  were  small,  but  all  were  ex- 
tremely beautiful,  and  Chick  wondered  greatly  at 
the  extent  of  this  under-water  palace,  the  existence 
of  which  no  one  could  suspect  who  stood  in  the 
forest  above,  beside  the  dam  of  the  beavers. 

"Are  all  beavers'  homes  like  this?'  asked  the 
child. 

"No,  indeed!'  answered  the  King,  laughing 
softly.  "They  are  usually  houses  composed  of  mud, 
mixed  with  bits  of  wood  and  the  leaves  and 
branches  of  trees.  But  I  am  King  of  the  Beaver 
Fairies,  who  watch  over  the  fortunes  of  all  ordinary 
beavers  and  take  care  of  them.  We  are  invisible, 
even  to  beavers;  and  the  eyes  of  mankind  can 
never  see  us  unless,  as  in  your  case,  we  permit  them 
to  do  so.  These  rooms  seem  to  you  deserted,  but 

255 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

I  assure  you  they  are  filled  with  many  beaver 
fairies,  who  are  even  now  watching  you  with  much 
curiosity." 

Both  the  children  started  at  hearing  this,  and 
glanced  hastily  around;  but  nothing  but  the  walls 
of  the  palace  met  their  gaze,  and  the  King  smiled 
upon  them  indulgently. 

"At  our  banquet,  this  evening,"  said  he,  "I  will 
permit  you  to  see  my  people.  But  now  please 
come  to  the  music-room,  where  you  may  enjoy  the 
strains  of  harmony  that  provide  us  with  one  of  our 
chief  amusements." 

He  led  the  way  to  another  room,  the  roof  of 
which  was  dome-shaped.  From  different  points  in 
this  dome  projected  the  ends  of  many  silver  tubes, 
and  near  the  floor  of  the  room,  directly  underneath 
each  of  the  tubes,  was  placed  a  plate  of  glass  or 
of  metal. 

The  King  invited  his  guests  to  seat  themselves, 
and  then  pressed  a  diamond  button  that  was  placed 
in  the  wall.  This  allowed  the  water  from  the  river 
above  them  to  drip  slowly  through  the  silver 
tubes;  ^nd  as  it  fell,  drop  by  drop,  on  the  plates 
beneath,  it  made  sounds  that  were  very  sweet  and 
harmonious.  The  metal  plates  gave  out  deep 
and  resonant  sounds,  while  the  smaller  glass  plates 

256 


T  h 


airy 


B 


e  a  v  e  r  s 


tinkled    melodiously    as    the    drops    of    water    fell 
upon  them. 

Neither  Chick  nor  the  Princess  recognized  the 
first  tune  that  was  played,  for  it  had  been  composed 
by  one  of  the  Fairy  Beavers;  but  afterward  the 
King  played  "Home,  Sweet 
Home,"  for  them,  and  "Annie 
Laurie";  and  the  music  was 
so  exquisitely 
sweet  and  soft 
that  the  girl 
declared  she 
would  never 
have  imagined 
that  sounds 
so  delightful 
could  be  pro- 
duced, and 
Chick  pro- 
nounced the 
entertainment 
"all  right." 

The  ginger- 
bread man  was  also  pleased;  for  it  was  the  first 
real  music  he  had  ever  heard,  and  it  soothed  and 
comforted  him  beyond  measure. 

257 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

The  Fairy  King  seemed  glad  to  give  his  new 
friends  pleasure;  and  when  the  Princess  remarked 
that  she  would  like  to  know  what  the  Mifkets 
thought  of  their  sudden  escape,  the  beaver  led  them 
to  what  he  called  the  "Observation  Room."  In  it 
was  a  square  box,  draped  with  black  silk  and  having 
a  window  in  one  side. 

Seating  the  girl  and  her  companions  before  this 
window,  the  King  said: 

"You  will  now  observe  what  the  Mifkets  are 
doing." 

Instantly  a  picture  appeared  in  the  box,  and  it 
seemed  that  through  the  little  window  they  were 
gazing  upon  a  section  of  the  forest  they  had  re- 
cently left.  There  were  the  Mifkets,  indeed,  with 
Black  Ooboo  and  the  Arab  among  them,  and  all 
were  quarreling  and  fighting  among  themselves  in 
their  usual  way,  and  trying  to  decide  what  had  be- 
come of  the  gingerbread  man  and  the  children. 

"They  are  drowned  and  at  the  bottom  of  the 
river,  by  this  time,"  Black  Ooboo  said;  and  his 
words  came  as  distinctly  to  their  ears  as  if  they  had 
been  standing  beside  him. 

"I  hope  not,"  answered  Ali  Dubh;  "for  I've 
never  yet  had  a  single  bite  of  the  gingerbread  man, 
although  I  bought  and  paid  for  him." 

258 


IN    THE     "OBSERVATION    ROOM 


259 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

Then  the  scene  changed,  and  they  saw  Para 
Bruin  climbing  slowly  up  the  side  of  the  steep  hill 
to  his  den.  He  seemed  none  the  worse  for  his  roll 
down  the  mountain  and  his  bath  in  the  river,  and 
they  noticed  that  he  laughed  and  chuckled  to  him- 
self as  if  much  amused. 

"  That  was  a  good  fight,"  John  Dough  heard 
him  murmur,  in  the  bear  language;  "and  I  'm 
mighty  glad  I  was  in  time  to  save  the  Princess, 
Chick,  and  the  delicatessen  man.  They  're  safe 
enough  with  the  beavers  by  this  time,  the  white 
rabbit  says!''  Then  he  laughed  again;  and,  reach- 
ing the  top  of  the  hill,  entered  his  cave  and  lay 
down  to  rest. 

Again  the  scene  changed,  and  the  Princess  be- 
held the  open  sea,  upon  which  floated  the  boat 
that  bore  safely  her  father  and  mother.  They 
seemed  to  be  quite  comfortable,  and  the  girl  was 
pleased  to  see  that  they  had  put  enough  provisions 
and  fresh  water  into  the  boat  to  last  them  during 
a  long  voyage.  The  man,  although  little,  was 
strong,  and  pulled  sturdily  at  the  oars;  and  the 
woman  steered  the  boat  in  the  right  direction. 

Our  Princess  was  very  glad  to  see  these  sights, 
and  to  know  Para  Bruin  was  safe,  and  that  her  dear 
parents  had  escaped  the  fierce  Mifkets.  In  com- 

260 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

pany  with  her  friend  Chick  and  the  gingerbread 
man,  she  wandered  through  the  palace  during  all 
that  afternoon,  seeing  many  wonderful  things  that 
the  Fairy  Beavers  had  provided  for  the  comfort  and 
amusement  of  their  community.  It  was,  indeed, 
a  little  world  by  itself,  placed  under  land  and  water, 
where  no  mortal  could  guess  its  existence. 

In  the  early  evening  the  King  escorted  them  to 
a  splendid  banquet  hall,  where  a  long,  low  table  was 
set  in  the  center  of  the  room.  The  dishes  "were 
all  of  sparkling  cut-glass,  and  the  eatables  proved 
to  be  very  delicious  foods  made  from  vegetables 
that  grew  at  the  bottom  of  the  river,  together  with 
fish  and  lobsters  and  oysters,  and  many  rare  sweet- 
meats that  could  only  have  been  created  by  the 
magic  of  the  fairies  themselves. 

Around  the  long  table  were  rows  of  silken 
cushions;  but  when  the  children  and  the  ginger- 
bread man  entered,  the  room  seemed  deserted  by 
all  save  themselves  and  the  King. 

His  Majesty  the  King  of  the  Fairy  Beavers  sat 
upon  a  cushion  at  the  head  of  the  table  and 
graciously  placed  the  Princess  and  Chick  close  to 
his  right  hand  and  John  Dough  at  his  left.  Then 
he  blew  softly  upon  a  silver  whistle,  and  at  once 
before  the  eyes  of  his  guests  appeared  rows  of 

261 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

Fairy  Beavers,   occupying    the   cushions  beside  the 
low  table. 

They    were    all    pretty    to    look    upon,    having 
silvery  fur  as  soft  as  satin,  and  large  dark  eyes  that 


regarded  the  strangers  pleasantly  and  without  fear. 
From  the  neck  of  each  was  suspended,  by  means 
of  silken  cords,  a  richly  embroidered  cloak,  ex- 
quisitely woven  from  a  material  unknown  to  the 

262 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

Princess,  and  blazoned  with  an  emblem  denoting  the 
rank  or  degree  of  the  wearer.  Also  each  of  the 
Fairy  Beavers  wore  a  jeweled  circlet  upon  the  brow; 
but  none  of  these  was  so  magnificent  as  the  diadem 
of  their  King. 

While  our  friends  gazed  wonderingly  upon  the 
Fairy  Beavers,  the  King  introduced  them,  saying: 

"This  is  a  little  mortal  Princess  named  Jacquelin, 
whom  I  have  protected  because  her  heart  is  as  fresh 
and  innocent  as  the  daisies  that  grow  in  the  fields. 
This  is  Chick,  known  also  as  the  Cherub,  an  In- 
cubator Baby  without  relatives,  but  who  is  not 
lacking  in  friends.  And  this  is  John  Dough,  a 
strange  creature,  having  the  form  of  a  man,  made 
out  of  gingerbread.  He  is  not  exactly  a  fairy,  but 
lives  through  the  magic  of  a  fairy  compound  known 
as  the  <  Great  Elixir,'  and  is  therefore  not  respon- 
sible for  being  alive  and  is  liable  to  perish  before 
he  has  grown  very  old.  Each  of  these  guests  is,  I 
believe,  worthy  of  our  friendship  and  protection, 
and  I  trust  that  my  people  will  join  me  in  welcom- 
ing them  to  our  palace." 

Answering  the  King's  speech,  all  the  Beaver 
Fairies  gracefully  arose  from  their  cushions  and 
bowed  thrice — once  to  the  Princess  and  once  to 
Chick  and  once  to  John  Dough.  Then  they  all 

263 


T  h 


airy 


B 


e  a  v  e  r  s 


reseated  themselves  and  drank  to  the  health  of 
their  guests  from  dainty  tumblers  no  bigger  than 
harebells,  which  contained  water  as  pure  as  crystal. 


Then,  while  the  feast  began,  a 
chorus  of  black  beavers  entered  and 
chanted  a  pretty  song;  and  afterward  other  beavers, 
so  small  that  the  Princess  thought  that  they  were 
quite  young,  entered  and  danced  a  minuet  for  the 
amusement  of  the  entire  company. 

Chick  and  the  Princess  Jacquelin  were  really 
hungry,  and  although  the  children  at  first  feared 
the  food  placed  before  them  was  not  such  as  they 

264 


The      Fairy      Beavers 

could  enjoy,  they  tasted  some  of  the  dishes  and 
found  them  so  delicious  that  both  ended  by  eating 
heartily,  and  afterward  decided  they  had  never 
enjoyed  a  meal  so  much. 

Of  course  John  Dough  missed  the  pleasure  of 
eating,  but  he  had  a  good  time  listening  to  the 
music  and  watching  the  dancers;  so  he  was  quite 
content.  Later  he  amused  the  company  by  telling 
the  story  of  his  adventures  since  he  had  come  to 
life  in  the  bake-shop.  He  spoke  in  the  beaver 
language,  so  that  all  understood  him;  and  even  the 
Princess  could  understand  most  of  his  speech,  for 
the  portion  of  gingerbread  she  had  eaten  had  con- 
veyed to  her  some  share  of  the  powers  of  the  Great 
Elixir.  The  Fairy  Beavers  were  much  interested, 
and  loudly  applauded  the  recital. 

After  dinner  the  girl  was  escorted  by  six  pretty 
Beaver  Fairies  to  a  cosy  little  room  decorated  with 
pink  and  white  shells,  which  were  polished  smooth 
as  glass.  There  was  no  regular  bed  in  the  room, 
but  the  beavers  heaped  many  of  the  soft  cushions 
into  a  corner,  and  upon  these  the  Princess  lay  down 
and  slept  very  peacefully  until  the  next  morning. 
Chick  had  a  room  of  blue  and  gold,  in  the  four 
corners  of  which  perfumed  fountains  shot  their 
sprays  into  the  air.  The  tinkling  sounds  of  these 

265 


The     Fairy     B 


e  a  v  e  r  s 


fountains  might  have  soothed  any  child  to  sleep, 
yet  Chick  could  have  slept  as  soundly  in  the  open 
forest  as  within  this  luxurious  room. 

John  Dough  also  was  supplied  with  a  room  in 
the  palace;  but  as  he  did  not  sleep  he  had  no  need 
to  lie  down,  and  so  amused  himself  during  the 
night  by  looking  at  the  beautiful  pictures  that 
decorated  the  walls  and  ceiling.  Most  of  these 
depicted  the  work  of  beavers  engaged  in  building 
dams  and  houses;  John  found  them  very  interesting, 
and  therefore  passed  a  pleasant  night. 

Soon  after  daybreak  the  Beaver  King  came  to 
John  and  escorted  him  to  the  Observation  Room, 
where  he  found  Chick  and  the  Princess  —  who  had 
already  risen  and  finished  their  breakfasts  —  gazing 
earnestly  through  the  window  of  the  black  box. 
He  also  approached  the  box  to  gaze  at  the  shift- 
ing pictures,  and  discovered  that  the  forest  had 
become  as  quiet  as  usual,  the  Arab  and  Black 
Ooboo  having  returned  to  the  village  in  the  clearing, 
and  only  a  few  of  the  Mifkets  being  left  to  wander 
along  the  sides  of  the  brook  and  watch  the  water- 
fall at  the  dam  of  the  beavers. 

"Now,"  said  the  Fairy  Beaver  to  the  girl,  "I  can 
do  one  more  thing  to  please  you.  Make  a  wish, 
Princess,  and  I  will  grant  it." 

266 


267 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

"Thank  you!'  she  cried,  eagerly.  "I  wish  to 
rejoin  my  dear  father  and  mother,  wherever  they 
may  be." 

"Very  well,"  returned  the  King;  "come  with  me." 

He  led  them  through  many  passages,  until  they 
reached  a  sort  of  tunnel  that  brought  them  to  a 
rocky  cave  under  the  river  bank,  some  distance 
below  the  waterfall.  The  water  of  the  river  covered 
half  the  floor  of  the  cave,  and  upon  the  sandy 
beach  at  its  edge  rested  a  large  glass  cylinder,  which 
was  pointed  at  both  ends  and  had  a  door  in  the 
top.  Harnessed  to  one  end  of  the  glass  tube  were 
twenty-four  strong  beavers,  who  sat  motionless 
beside  it. 

"The  boat  in  which  your  father  and  mother  are 
still  riding  is  far  out  in  the  ocean,"  said  the  King 
to  the  Princess;  "but  in  this  submarine  boat  you 
will  be  drawn  by  my  swimming  beavers  so  swiftly 
that  the  journey  will  not  seem  long  to  you." 

"Are  we  not  to  go  with  the  Princess?'1  asked 
the  gingerbread  man. 

"There  is  room  for  only  one  more  in  the  boat," 
replied  ^the  King,  "so  the  Cherub  and  you  must 
bid  farewell  to  your  friend,  in  order  that  she  may 
safely  rejoin  the  parents  she  so  dearly  loves." 

"I'm  sorry,"  said  John,  sadly. 

268 


T  h 


airy 


B 


e  a  v  e  r  s 


"I  'm  sorry,  too,"  declared  the  little  Princess, 
"for  you  have  been  very  good  to  me,  John  Dough. 
Yet  my  parents  need  me  more  than  you  do,  and  it 
is  my  duty  to  rejoin  them." 

"That  is  true,"  said  John.  "Good  bye,  little 
friend,  and  may  your  life  be  long  and  happy." 

Chick  said  nothing,  but  hugged  the  little  girl  in 
a  long  and  warm 
embrace     and 
kissed     both     her 
pretty  cheeks. 

The  King  now 
opened  the  door 
in  the  top  of  the 
cylinder  and  the 
girl  stepped  inside. 
The  space  was  just 
big  enough  to  per- 
mit her  to  lie  down 
comfortably,  and 
the  bottom  of  the 
cylinder  had  been 
thickly  covered 
with  soft  cushions 
brought  from  the 
palace. 


269 


The     Fairy     Beavers 

When  the  King  had  closed  and  fastened  the 
door,  he  gave  a  signal  to  the  four-and-twenty 
beavers,  and  at  once  they  dashed  into  the  water, 
drawing  the  glass  submarine  after  them,  and  began 
swimming  with  powerful  strokes  down  the  river. 
They  swam  well  under  the  surface  of  the  water, 
and  the  glass  boat  followed  them  without  either 
touching  the  bottom  or  rising  to  the  top. 

At  first  the  Princess  was  much  bewildered  by 
her  strange  journey,  for  it  seemed  as  if  the  water 
was  pressing  upon  her  from  all  sides.  But  presently 
she  realized  that  she  was  quite  safe  in  the  glass  tube, 
and  began  watching  curiously  the  pretty  weeds  and 
water-flowers  that  grew  at  the  bottom  of  the  river, 
and  the  queer  fishes  that  swam  around  her. 

The  speed  of  the  swimming  beavers  was  surpris- 
ing. It  was  not  long,  indeed,  before  they  reached 
the  mouth  of  the  river  and  swam  boldly  out  into 
the  sea.  Jacquelin  had  no  idea  of  the  direction 
they  took,  but  she  trusted  to  the  wisdom  of  her 
friend  the  Fairy  Beaver,  and  was  not  at  all 
frightened. 

And:  now  the  sights  that  she  saw  were  very 
strange  indeed;  for  the  seaweeds  were  of  most 
gorgeous  hues,  and  there  were  not  only  big  and 
little  fishes  of  every  description,  but  brillant  sea- 

270 


T  h 


airy 


B 


e  a  v  e  r  s 


anemones   and  jelly-fish  floating  gracefully  on   all 
sides  of  her. 

The  journey  was  long,  but  not  at  all  tiresome, 
and  the  girl  had  not  realized  how  far  she  had  been 
drawn  through  the  waters  of  the  ocean  when  a 
dark  gray  object  appeared  just  overhead,  and  the 
beavers  came  to  a  halt. 

Slowly  the  glass  cylinder  rose  to  the  surface  of 
the  waves,  and  Jac  saw  just  beside  her  the  boat 
containing  her  parents.  The  girl's  mother  also 
saw,  to  her  great  surprise  and  joy,  the 
form  of  her  daughter  lying  in  the  glass 

case,    and    at    once 
unfastened    the    door 


T  h 


airy 


B 


e  a  v  e  r  s 


and  assisted  the  child  to   crawl   out   and   scramble 
into  the  boat. 

The  first  act  of  the  little  Princess  was  to  kiss 
her  father  and  mother  delightedly,  and  then  she 
leaned  over  the  side  of  the  boat  and  refastened 
the  door  of  the  cylinder. 

"Tell  your  King  that  I  thank  him!'  she  called 
to  the  beavers,  trying  to  speak  their  own  language; 
and  the  intelligent  little  creatures  must  have 
understood,  for  the  glass  cylinder  sank  swiftly 
beneath  the  water,  and  she  saw  it  no  more. 

Many  days  the  Princess  and  her  parents  rode 
in  the  boat,  until  one  morning  they  came  to 
another  small  island  and  ventured  to  land  upon 
it.  They  found  it  to  be  a  beautiful  place,  in- 
habited by  no  savage  beasts  of  any  sort,  and  con- 
taining a  grove  of  trees  that  bore  figs  and  bananas 
and  dates  and  many  other 
delicious  fruits. 

So  they  built  themselves 
a  cottage  on  this  island,  and 
lived  there  in  peace  and 
happiness  for  many  years. 


272 


\ 


After  the  Princess  had  left  them,  John  Dough 
said  to  the  King:  "What  is  to  become  of  Chick 
and  of  me?  We  cannot  stay  with  you  always." 

"  I  hardly  know,"  answered  the  Beaver  Fairy. 
"Is  there  any  place  you  especially  desire  to  visit?" 

"  No  special  place  is  known  to  me/'  said  the 
gingerbread  man. 

"It  doesn't  matter  where  we  go,  so  long  as  we 
keep  going,"  added  the  practical  Chick 

"You  have  been  very  kind  to  us,"  continued 
John,  "and  we  may  rely  upon  your  friendship. 
Since  you  possess  such  wonderful  fairy  powers, 
perhaps  you  will  assist  us  to  leave  this  island  and 
get  out  into  the  world  again,  where  we  may  seek 
new  adventures." 

"It  shall  be  as  you  wish,"  promised  the  King. 
"  But  I  must  think  of  a  way  for  you  to  leave  my 
palace  in  perfect  safety.  Chick  is  in  no  great 

273 


The    Flight    of    the    Flamingoes 

danger,  but  should  Black  Ooboo  or  the  terrible 
Arab  chance  to  capture  you,  they  would  cut  your 
gingerbread  to  bits  in  no  time,  and  you  would  be 
ruined.  For  this  reason  it  will  be  best  for  you  to 
leave  this  island  as  quickly  as  possible." 

John  readily  agreed  to  this,  and  the  King 
remained  silent  for  several  minutes,  engaged  in 
deep  thought.  Then  he  said: 

"  I  believe  I  know  a  way  to  save  you,  John 
Dough.  But  I  must  have  your  permission  to  cut 
you  into  nine  pieces." 

"  What  good  will  I  be  when  cut  into  pieces  ? ': 
asked  John,  somewhat  alarmed  at  the  suggestion. 

"  Do  not  fear,"  said  the  beaver.      "  I  promise  to 


The    Flight    of    the    Flamingoes 

again  restore  you  to  your  present  form.  The 
Mifkets  have  placed  spies  all  about  our  dam,  and 
if  you  attempted  to  walk  away  from  here  they 
would  soon  discover  you.  Therefore  I  will  cut 
you  into  nine  pieces,  wrap  each  piece  in  a  bit  of 
cloth,  and  send  the  parcels  by  my  beavers  along 
different  paths  to  the  top  of  the  hill  where  Para 
Bruin  lives.  There  the  bear  and  Chick  can  put 
you  together  again,  for  the  child  will  have  no 
trouble  in  reaching  the  bear's  cage.  After  the  nine 
parts  are  in  place  I  will  give  you  a  magic  cordial  to 
drink;  it  will  render  your  body  as  solid  and 
substantial  as  it  is  now." 

"  But  how  can  we  escape  from  the  island,  once 
we  have  reached  Para  Bruin's  cave?"  asked  John. 

"  The  Flamingo  people  owe  me  many  favors," 
answered  the  King.  "  You  do  not  weigh  much,  so 
I  will  ask  one  of  the  flamingoes  to  fly  with  you  to 
some  other  country.  It  will  take  two  of  the  birds 
to  carry  Chick;  but,  if  the  child  is  not  afraid,  the 
journey  will  be  perfectly  safe." 

"I'm  not  afraid,"  said  Chick.  "Anything  suits 
me." 

"  I  think  your  plan  is  an  excellent  one,"  declared 
John,  "and  we  are  both  greatly  obliged  to  your 
Majesty  for  your  kindness." 

275 


The    Flight    of    the    Flamingoes 


So  the  King  brought  a  great  knife,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  Chick,  who  was  much  interested  in 
the  operation,  cut  John  Dough  into  nine  pieces. 
These  were  wrapped  into  packages  and  eight 
beavers  were  summoned,  who  carried  eight  of  the 
packages  through  secret  passages  to  the  forest  and 
then  up  the  mountain-side  to  the  cave  of  Para 
Bruin.  The  ninth  package,  containing  the  head 
of  John  Dough,  the  King  undertook  to  carry  him- 
self, and  although  the  Mifket  spies  of  Black  Ooboo 
noticed  the  nine  beavers  carrying  packages  up  the 

hillside,  they   paid  little   attention    to   them,  never 

suspecting  that 

in  this  queer 
fashion  the 
gingerbread 
man  was  mak- 
ing his  escape. 
And  Chick 
walked  boldly 
along  the  river 
bank  and  up 
the  hill  to 
meet  Para 
Bruin,  who 
hugged  the 


276 


The    Flight    of    the    Flamingoes 

child  joyfully  in  his  rubber  arms,  and  tried  to  lick 
the  plump  cheeks  with  his  pink  rubber  tongue. 
The  Mifkets  were  puzzled  by  Chick's  appearance, 
and  wondered  where  the  little  one  had  come  from ; 
but  they  did  not  offer  to  interfere  with  the  child  in 
any  way. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  Beaver  King  reached 
the  bear's  cave  and  laid  the  ninth  package,  contain- 
ing John's  head,  beside  the  other  eight,  which  had 
already  arrived. 

"What's  all  this?"  asked  Para  Bruin,  eying  the 
packages  with  much  surprise. 

"  Be  patient  and  you  will  see,"  replied  the  King, 
and  then  unwrapped  John's  head.  When  the 
bear  saw  it  he  uttered  a  groan  and  exclaimed: 

"Alas!  my  poor  friend  has  come  to  a  sad  end!' 

"Not  so,"  answered  John's  head.  "The  Fairy 
Beaver  has  cut  me  apart,  but  he  has  promised  to 
put  me  together  again,  so  that  I  will  be  as  good  as 
new.  And  you  must  assist  us,  friend  Para." 

"Most  willingly!"  declared  the  bear. 

Then,  under  the  King's  direction,  Para  Bruin 
and  Chick  set  up  John's  legs,  and  placed  the  sec- 
tions of  his  body  upon  them,  and  afterward  perched 
his  head  upon  the  body.  John  expected  to  tumble 
down  at  any  moment,  for  he  was  just  like  a  house 

277 


The    Flight    of    the    Flamingoes 


of  blocks  that  a  child  builds,  and  every  one  knows 
how  easily  that  falls  apart;  but  he  kept  as  still  as 
possible,  and  at  length  all  the  nine  parts  of  him 
were  in  their  proper  places. 

Then  the  King  handed  a  small  silver  flask  to  the 
child,  and  told  Chick  to  pour  the  contents  into 
John's  mouth  —  just  between  the  candy  teeth. 
Chick,  by  standing  on  tiptoe,  was  able  to  do  this, 
and  John  drank  the  cordial  to  the  last  drop.  He 
seemed  to  feel  it  penetrate  and  spread  through  all 
his  gingerbread  body;  and,  as  it  did  so,  every  one 
of  the  cut  places  became  solid  again,  and  presently 
John  took  a  step  forward,  looked  himself  over,  and 
found  he  was  indeed  as  good  as  new. 

"  That  cordial  is 
great  stuff*,"  he  said 
to  the  King.  "It's 
almost  as  powerful 
as  the  Great  Elixir 
itself. 

"  It  is  an  excellent 


remedy 
replied 
as 


cuts, 


King, 


for 
the 

"  and    as    you    are    so 
crumbly   and    unsub- 

give 


stantial    I     will 


278 


The    Flight    of    the    Flamingoes 

you  anotner  bottle  of  it,  so  that  if  you  ever  meet 
with  an  accident  you  may  drink  the  cordial  and 
recover."  He  handed  John  another  silver  flask 
containing  the  wonderful  liquid,  which  John 
accepted  with  much  gratitude. 

"Now  I  must  leave  you,"  said  the  King.  "The 
flamingoes  have  promised  to  send  her  their  strongest 
flyers  to  bear  you  and  the  Incubator  Baby  to  another 
land,  so  I  believe  you  will  both  live  to  encounter 
many  further  adventures." 

Chick  and  John  again  thanked  the  kind  beaver 
for  all  the  favors  they  had  received,  and  then  the 
King  and  his  people  returned  to  their  beautiful 
palace,  and  left  the  gingerbread  man  and  the 
cheerful  Cherub  and  Para  Bruin  alone  upon  the 
mountain-top. 

"  What  has  become  of  the  Princess  ? v  asked 
the  bear. 

John  told  him  the  story  of  her  escape,  and 
Para  said : 

"  Well,  I  'm  glad  the  dear  child  was  able  to 
rejoin  her  parents;  but  this  island  will  be  a  dreary 
place  without  her.  I  wish  I  could  leave  it  as 
easily  as  you  and  Chick  can." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  John,  "  the  flamingoes  will  also 
carry  you." 

279 


The    Flight    of    the    Flamingoes 

"  Do  you  think  so  ? "  asked  Para,  eagerly. 

"  I  '11  ask  them  about  it,  for  I  understand  their 
language,"  promised  John;  and  this  so  delighted 
the  rubber  bear  that  he  bounded  up  and  down 
in  glee. 

Before  long  four  great  birds  were  seen  approach- 
ing through  the  air,  and  soon  they  alighted  upon 
the  mountain  close  to  where  our  friends  stood. 

"  We  were  sent  to  carry  a  gingerbread  man  and 
a  fair-haired  child  away  from  this  island,"  said  one 
of  the  birds,  in  a  squeaky  voice. 

"I  am  the  gingerbread  man,"  replied  John, 
speaking  as  the  flamingoes  did;  "and  here  is  the 
fair-haired  child.  But  we  also  wish  you  to  carry 
our  friend  Para  Bruin  w^'th  us.  One  of  you  can 
carry  me,  and  two  can  carry  Chick.  That  will 
leave  the  fourth  to  fly  with  Para  Bruin,  if  you  will 
kindly  consent." 

"What,  that  monstrous  bear!"  exclaimed  one  of 
the  birds,  indignantly. 

"He's  large,  it  is  true,"  replied  John;  "but  he's 
made  of  rubber,  and  is  hollow  inside;  so  he  really 
doesn't^weight  much  more  than  I  do." 

"Well,"  said  the  flamingo,  "if  that  is  the  case 
I  do  not  object  to  carrying  him." 

John  related  this  conversation  to  the  bear,  who 

280 


"NICE    RIDE,     ISN'T    IT?" 


281 


The    Flight    of    the    Flamingoes 

was  overjoyed  at  the  thought  of  getting  away  from 
the  island. 

A  stout  cord  had  been  tied  to  the  feet  of  each 
of  the  flamingoes,  and  John  now  proceeded  to 
fasten  the  loose  end  of  one  of  the  cords  around 
his  own  body,  tying  it  in  a  firm  knot,  so  it  would 
not  come  undone  and  let  him  drop.  The  cords 
hanging  from  the  two  birds  that  were  to  carry  the 
Cherub  were  tied  together  in  a  hard  knot,  and 
thus  formed  a  swing  in  which  the  child  sat  quite 
comfortably.  Para  Bruin  now  tied  himself  to  the 
fourth  flamingo,  and  the  preparations  were  com- 
plete. 

"  Are  you  ready  ? "  asked  the  leader  of  the 
flamingoes. 

"Yes,"  said  John. 

"  Where  do  you  wish  to  be  taken  ? ' 

"We  don't  much  care,"  replied  the  gingerbread 
man.  "  Let  us  get  to  some  island  where  there  are 
no  Mifkets.  As  for  Ali  Dubh,  he  will  be  obliged 
to  stay  here  with  his  friend  Black  Ooboo,  and  once 
I  am  away  from  these  shores  I  shall  be  sure  he  can 
never  eat  me." 

So  the  big  birds  flew  into  the  air,  carrying  with 
them  the  gingerbread  man  and  the  fair-haired 
child  and  the  rubber  bear,  and  so  swift  was  their 

282 


The    Flight    of    the    Flamingoes 

flight  that  in  a  few  moments  the  island  of  the 
Mifkets  had  vanished  from  their  view. 

"Nice  ride,  isn't  it?"  Chick  called  to  John. 

"  Rather  nice,"  answered  the  gingerbread  man. 
"But  this  cord  is  so  tight  it's  wearing  a  crease  in 
my  body." 

"What  a  pity  you  are  not  made  of  rubber,  as  I 
am  I  '  said  the  bear,  cheerfully.  "  Nothing  ever 
injures  me  in  the  least.  I  'm  practically  inde- 
structible." 

"How  are  you  getting  on,  Chick?  "  asked  John. 

"  Fine  !  '  answered  the  Cherub.  "  This  knocks 
Imar's  flying-machine  into  a  cocked  hat." 

Then  for  a  time  they  sailed  on  in  silence,  dan- 
gling from  the  ends  of  their  cords,  while  the  strong 
wings  of  the  flamingoes  beat  the  air  with  regular 
strokes  just  above  their  heads. 


283 


The  birds  flew  close  together  and  made  great 
speed,  and  in  about  three  hours  from  the  time  they 
started  an  island  appeared  just  ahead  of  them. 
Whereupon  John  said  to  the  bird  that  bore  him : 

"  Let  us  stop  here,  so  we  can  examine  the  island 
and  see  how  we  like  it.  This  cord  is  cutting  into 
my  gingerbread  body,  and  I  'd  like  to  stop  for  a 
time,  anyway." 

"Very  well,"  answered  the  bird;  and  when  they 
were  over  the  center  of  the  island  the  flamingoes 
gradually  descended  and  alighted  upon  the  ground. 
John  untied  the  cord  from  his  waist,  and  also 
assisted  Chick  and  Para  Bruin  to  free  themselves. 
The  bear  was  not  injured  at  all,  but  the  cord  had 
worn  a  straight  line  around  John's  body,  although 
not  very  deep;  and  in  some  way  the  gingerbread 
man  had  lost  another  of  his  lozenge  buttons. 

The^place  where  they  had  alighted  was  covered 
by  grass  and  surrounded  by  groves  of  trees. 

"  This  looks  like  a  fine  country,"  said  Chick, 
gazing  around. 

284 


Sport     of     Pirate     Island 


"It's  better  than  our  old  island,  anyway,"  re- 
marked Para  Bruin. 

But  just  as  he  spoke  the  flamingoes  uttered 
shrill  screams  and  flew  quickly  into  the  air,  and 
our  friends  turned  in  time  to  see  a  most  curious 
creature  come  from  the  grove  and  approach  them. 

It  had  somewhat  the  likeness  of  a  man,  yet  was 
too  queer  ever  to  be  mistaken  for  a  human  being, 
although  it  was  certainly  alive.  Its  body  was  a 
huge  punching-bag,  and  its  head  was  a  foot-ball. 
For  legs  it  had  two  of  those  golf-clubs  called 
"putters,"  and  one  of  its  arms  was  a  tennis-racket 
and  the  other  a 
base-ball  club. 
This  was  curious 
enough,  in  all 
conscience;  but 
the  face  was  more 
curious  yet.  For 
the  eyes  were  golf 
balls,  and  the  nose 
a  square  of  bil- 
liard-chalk, and  its 
mouth  a  mere  slit 
in  the  foot- ball 
where  the  lacing 


285 


Sport     of     Pirate     Island 

had  come  undone.  Taken  altogether,  this  odd 
creature  presented  a  most  surprising  appearance, 
and  while  John  Dough  and  Para  Bruin  stared  at  it 
in  amazement  Chick  boldly  asked: 

"Who  are  you  ?' 

"Sport  is  my  name,  and  sport  my  nature,"  an- 
swered the  creature,  winking  one  eye  frightfully, 
and  grinning  until  its  queer  mouth  curled  up  at 
both  corners  of  the  slit. 

"Sport,"  remarked  the  rubber  bear,  gravely,  "is 
something  amusing;  so  I  am  sure  you  are  mis- 
named." 

"Oh!  you're  a  balloon,"  returned  Sport,  kicking 
at  the  bear  with  one  of  his  golf-club  feet;  "the 
kid's  a  chucklehead  and  the  other's  a  bun." 

"  I  'm  not  a  bun  !  "  exclaimed  John,  indignantly. 

"Yes,  you  are!  Cross  bun,  too.  Hot  cross 
bun.  Cool  off,  old  chap,  and  look  pleasant." 

John  was  too  angry  to  reply  to  this  speech,  but 
Chick  said  to  the  creature: 

"  If  you  're  going  to  be  so  disagreeable,  you  'd 
better  leave  us.  We  don't  care  to  associate  with 
people-of  your  sort." 

"Ho,  ho!  ha,  ha!'  laughed  Sport;  "don't  care 
to  associate,  eh  ?  Do  you  know  where  you  are  ? ' 

"No,"  said  Chick,  "and  I  don't  care." 

286 


THE    RETIRED    PIRATES 


287 


Sport     of     Pirate     Island 

"Well,  this  island  is  inhabited  by  retired  pirates 
and  bandits,  who  make  every  one  that  lands  here 
pay  a  heavy  ransom,  or  else  — " 

"  Or  else  what  ? '  asked  John,  as  Sport  stopped 
short  and  gave  another  horrid  wink. 

"Or  else  they  boil  'em  in  oil  for  three  days," 
was  the  reply. 

"Well,"  said  the  bear,  "we  can't  pay  a  ransom, 
that's  certain;  but  I'm  not  afraid  of  being  boiled 
in  oil.  I  'm  practically  indestructible." 

"But  I'm  not!'  cried  John,  much  alarmed. 
"  It  would  ruin  my  gingerbread  to  be  boiled  in  oil, 
and  Chick  would  certainly  get  overheated.  I  'm 
afraid  it  would  rnelt  your  rubber,  too,  my  dear 
Para." 

"  Would  it  ? '  asked  the  bear,  with  a  start. 
"  Then  let  us  get  away  from  this  island  at  once !  ' 

"  By  all  means!  "  agreed  John  Dough. 

"  And  the  sooner  the  better,"  declared  Chick. 

But  as  they  turned  to  look  for  the  flamingoes, 
the  creature  who  called  himself  Sport  began  pound- 
ing his  punching-bag  body  with  his  tennis-racket 
arm,  aiid  at  the  sound  a  crowd  of  men  ran  out  of 
groves  of  trees  and  quickly  surrounded  the  rubber 
bear  and  Chick  and  the  gingerbread  man. 

These  men  had  heavy  beards,  hooked  noses,  and 

288 


Sport     of     Pirate     Island 

piercing  black  eyes ;  and  they  wore  red  sashes  tied 
around  their  waists;  and  laced  leggings,  and  blue 
flannel  shirts  open  at  the  throats ;  and  in  their 
belts  were  stuck  many  daggers  and  knives  and 
pistols. 

"Whoop!  whoo — o — o!'  they  screeched,  yell- 
ing like  Indians ;  and  their  leader,  who  was  uglier 
looking  than  any  of  his  followers,  cried  out: 

"Avast,  there,  my  hearties!  Here's  a  chance 
for  either  a  fine  ransom  or  a  pot  of  boiling  oil ! ' 

"Then  it's  the  oil,"  said  Para  Bruin,  despon- 
dently; "for  we  have  no  ransom." 

"You  may  as  well  start  the  bonfire,"  remarked 
Chick. 

But  John  Dough  stepped  up  to  the  pirate  chief 
and  asked : 

"How  much  ransom  do  you  require?' 

"  Well,"  answered  the  chief,  "  you  're  not  worth 
much,  yourself,  and  the  child's  too  small  to 
count;  but  a  fine  rubber  bear  like  that  is  worth 
ten  pieces-of-eight  or  a  sparkling  jewel." 

"  I  will  give  you  a  sparkling  jewel  for  him,  as  a 
ransom,"  said  John,  "provided  you  will  then  permit 
us  to  depart  in  peace." 

"All  right,"  agreed  the  pirate;  "hand  over  the 
sparkler  and  you  may  go." 


Sport     of     Pirate     Island 


So  John  borrowed  a  dagger  from  the  chief  and 
picked  out  of  his  body  one  of  the  three  diamonds 
which  4:he  inventor  had  given  him  in  the  Isle  of 
Phreex.  It  glittered  most  beautifully  in  the  sun- 
light,  and  the  eyes  of  the  pirate  also  glittered  with 
greed.  For  he  had  noticed  two  other  scars  on 

290 


Sport     of     Pirate     Island 

John's  gingerbread  body,  similar  to  the  one  the 
diamond  had  been  picked  out  of.  Taking  the 
diamond  in  his  dirty  hand  he  said : 

"Well,  where  are  the  other  jewels  ?" 

"  You  agreed  to  accept  this  one  as  our  ransom," 
answered  the  gingerbread  man. 

"You  misunderstood  me.  I  said  three,"  declared 
the  pirate;  and  turning  to  his  men  he  shouted: 
"  Did  n't  I  say  three,  boys  ? ' 

"  You  did  !  You  said  three  sparklers !  "  cried  the 
retired  pirates  and  bandits,  in  a  loud  chorus.  So 
John,  with  a  sigh  of  regret,  picked  the  other  two 
diamonds  out  of  his  body  and  gave  them  to  the  chief. 

"  Now,"  said  the  pirate,  "  I  will  allow  you  to  go. 
But  where  you  can  go  to  is  a  mystery  to  me,  for 
you  are  on  an  island." 

"Stop!'  cried  another  man,  as  they  turned  to 
depart.  "  You  've  got  to  settle  with  me,  now.  I  'm 
the  bandit  chief,  and  I  also  demand  a  ransom." 

"  I  have  given  the  pirate  chief  all  the  diamonds 
I  had,"  said  John. 

"  Then  you  shall  surely  boil  in  oil !  '  shouted 
the  bandit,  scowling  fearfully.  "  Seize  them,  my 
men,  and  away  with  them  to  the  fiery  furnace." 

But  just  then  came  a  flutter  of  wings,  and  the 
four  flamingoes  flew  down  and  sailed  along  just 

291 


Sport     of    Pirate     Island 

over  the  heads  of  the  prisoners.  Instantly  the  bear 
clutched  the  end  of  a  cord  and  was  drawn  upward 
by  one  of  the  birds.  John  Dough  grasped  the  foot 
of  another  flamingo  with  his  right  hand,  and  was 
also  raised  high  above  the  heads  of  the  astonished 
pirates  and  bandits,  while  Chick  coolly  sat  within 
the  loop  of  string  dangling  from  the  two  remaining 
birds  and  sailed  into  the  sky  with  admirable  grace. 

Meantime  the  robbers  shook  their  fists  and  yelled 
at  the  escaped  prisoners  in  a  frenzy  of  helpless 
rage. 

"  Wait  a  minute !  '  Para  Bruin  called  to  the 
flamingo  which  was  carrying  him ;  for  he  observed 
that  just  beneath  him  was  the  form  of  the  dreadful 
person  who  had  called  himself  Sport.  The  bird 
obeyed,  remaining  poised  in  the  air;  and  at  once 
the  bear  curled  himself  into  a  ball,  let  go  the  cord, 
and  fell  downward  toward  the  ground. 

The  ball  of  rubber,  rapidly  descending,  struck  the 
surprised  Sport  and  smashed  him  flat  upon  the 
ground.  Then  up  into  the  air  bounded  the  bear 
again,  and  caught  once  more  the  cord  that  was  at- 
tached to  the  flamingo's  foot. 

"Well  done!'  called  the  Cherub,  while  the 
pirates  and  bandits  were  rushing  to  assist  the  help- 
less Sport. 

292 


Sport     of     Pirate     Island 

"  That  was  a  noble  deed,  my  good  Para !  '  said 
the  gingerbread  man. 

"Oh,  I 'm  a  bouncer,  all  right!'  answered  the 
bear,  proudly.  "  But  now  let  us  get  away  from 
this  awful  place  as  soon  as  possible." 

So  the  flamingoes  flew  swiftly  across  the  sea  with 
them,  and  John  Dough  found  that  he  sailed  more 
easily  while  clutching  the  bird's  foot  than  when 
the  cord  had  been  fastened  around  his  body.  Chick 
also  rode  with  perfect  comfort,  but  Para  Bruin  was 
obliged  to  wrap  the  cord  several  times  around  his 
fat  paw,  to  prevent  it  from  slipping  out  of  his  grasp. 


293 


After  a  long  and  steady  flight  the  birds  reached 
another  island,  larger  than  the  first,  and  much 
more  beautiful.  The  adventurers  looked  down 
upon  green  valleys  and  vine-covered  hills,  patches 
of  stately  forest  and  fields  of  waving  grain.  But 
aside  from  the  scattered  farm-houses,  they  saw  no 
cities  or  villages  until  they  were  over  the  exact 
center  of  the  island,  where  a  most  curious  sight 
met  their  view. 

The  island  was  divided  into  two  halves  by  a 
high  and  strong  wall  of  stone,  that  ran  from  ocean 
to  ocean,  passing  exactly  through  the  center  of  the 
land.  In  the  middle  of  the  island  the  dividing 
wall  was  broken  by  a  great  castle,  which  looked 
upon  both  sides  of  the  wall,  and  had  many  impos- 
ing towers  and  turrets  and  spires  stretching  high 
into  the  air.  Clustered  near  to  the  castle  and 
upon  the  east  side  of  the  wall  were  many 
tall  an  dp  narrow  buildings,  some  of  them  rising  to 
a  height  of  three  or  four  stories.  The  windows 
in  these  buildings  were  tall  and  narrow,  and  the 
doors  were  tall  and  narrow,  and  the  chimneys  were 

294 


THE    CASTLE    OF    HILAND    AND    LOLAND 


295 


Hiland      and      Loland 

tall  and  narrow.  It  was  quite  a  city  in  size,  but 
the  houses  all  looked  as  if  they  were  set  upon 
stilts,  while  the  streets  were  also  narrow. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  wall,  adjoining  the 
castle,  was  also  a  city,  but  of  a  quite  different  sort. 
For  the  houses  were  low,  none  being  of  more 
than  one  story,  and  the  windows  and  doors  in  them 
were  so  broad  and  low  that  they  were  wider  than 
they  were  high.  As  for  the  streets,  they  were  re- 
markably broad.  The  cities  upon  both  sides  of 
the  wall  were  pretty  and  well  built,  and  there 
were  many  beautiful  parks  and  pleasure  grounds 
scattered  about. 

Our  friends  had  not  much  time  to  observe  these 
things  closely,  for  at  John's  request  the  flamingoes 
alighted  upon  the  top  of  the  great  wall,  near  to  an 
entrance  of  the  castle. 

"We  must  leave  you  now,"  said  one  of  the  birds, 
"for  we  are  obliged  to  hurry  home  again.  But  I 
am  sure  you  will  be  quite  safe  in  this  beautiful 
country." 

"Good-by,"  said  John,  "and  thank  you  very 
much  for  bringing  us  here." 

Chick  and  the  bear  also  thanked  the  kind 
flamingoes,  and  then  the  birds  flew  into  the  air  and 
soon  disappeared. 

296 


H  i  1 


a  n 


a  n 


d     L  o  1 


a  n 


"What  a  lovely  place  to  bounce!'  said  Para 
Bruin,  leaning  over  the  edge  of  the  wall  nearest  to 
the  tall  houses  and  gazing  downward  into  the  street. 

"It's  a  good  way  down,"  said  Chick.  "You'd 
better  be  careful." 

"Nonsense!"  replied  the  bear,  scornfully.  "The 
higher  the  wall  the  finer  the  bounce." 

With  that  he  made  a  ball  of  himself  and  rolled 
off     the    wall. 
John   and  Chick 
leaned   over   and 
saw    the    rubber 
bear    strike    the 
pavement  far  be- 
low    and    then 
bound     upward 
again.     When  he 
was    on    a    level 
with    the    top    of    the 
walls    he    reached    out 
his    paws,    caught     the 
edge  of  the  stones,  and 
drew     himself   up    be- 
side  them. 

"Great, — was  n't 
it  ? '"  he  asked,  proudly. 


297 


Hiland      and          ol 


a  n 


"Yes;  but  I  advise  you  to  be  careful,"  said  the 
gingerbread  man.  "  We  know  nothing  of  the 
people  who  inhabit  this  country,  and  if  you  should 
chance  to  miss  the  wall  when  you  bound  upwards 
you  would  become  a  prisoner  and  be  at  the  mercy 
of  those  who  captured  you." 

"That's  true,"  agreed  the  bear.  "I'll  be  more 
careful  until  we  get  better  acquainted.  What  shall 
we  do  now  ? ' 

"Let's  try  to  find  a  way  into  the  castle,"  sug- 
gested Chick.  "It's  the  only  way  to  get  off  this 
wall,  for  I  can't  bounce  as  you  do,  Para  Bruin." 

"Nor  can  I,"  added  John.  "How  strange  it  is 
that  the  island  should  be  divided  by  this  great  wall ! 
And  how  queer  to  have  everything  short  on  one 
side  and  tall  on  the  other!  But  perhaps  the  people 
in  the  castle  can  explain  it  all." 

They  walked  along  the  broad  wall  toward  the 
castle,   and   presently   came    to    the   large    entrance 
gate,  one  of  the  wickets   of  which  stood  ajar,  as  if  , 
inviting  them  to  enter. 

"Shall  we  go  in  ?  "  asked  John,  hesitating. 

"  Of  course,"  decided  Chick,  promptly.  "What 's 
the  use  of  staying  outside,  when  the  door's  open  ? ' 

So  they  passed  through  the  wicket  and  entered 
a  lofty  arched  hall,  built  of  blocks  of  exquisite 

298 


Hiland      and      Loland 

marble,  that  gave  it  a  grand  and  majestic  appearance. 
There  was  a  small  stairway  leading  upward  and  a 
large  stairway  descending  to  the  lower  floors  of  the 
castle;  but  no  one  was  in  sight  to  greet  them,  so 
they  decided  to  go  down  the  stairs. 

"  Evidently  they  did  not  expect  us,"  remarked 
Para  Bruin. 

"  This  must  be  the  castle  of  the  ruler,  or  king," 
replied  John,  "  and  perhaps  the  royal  family  is  at 
dinner,  or  the  king  is  holding  court." 

But  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs  they  found  the  hall- 
ways and  rooms  as  deserted  and  empty  as  could  be, 
and  their  footsteps  echoed  with  a  hollow  sound 
upon  the  tiled  floors. 

The  furniture  of  the  castle  was  magnificent  be- 
yond description,  and  the  draperies  and  pictures 
upon  the  walls  were  of  exceptional  beauty.  Every- 
thing was  in  perfect  order,  yet  the  place  seemed 
wholly  deserted. 

After  inspecting  the  Brooms  on  this  floor  of  the 
castle  they  found  another  stairway,  built  of  polished 
white  marble,  with  elaborately  carved  marble  balus- 
trades. This  they  also  descended,  and  discovered 
that  the  rooms  on  the  lower  floor  were  even  more 
splendid  than  those  they  had  already  seen. 

Occupying  the  entire  central  portion  of  the  castle 

299 


Hiland      and          ol 


a  n 


was  a  great  marble  hall,  having  a  domed  ceiling,  and 
windows  which  looked  upon  the  tall  city  to  the 
east  of  the  wall,  as  well  as  upon  the  low  city  to  the 
west.  There  were  also  great  entrance  doors,  ad- 
mitting people  from  both  sides  of  the  wall;  but 
these  doors  were  closed. 

They  were  not  locked,  however,  and  John  said 
to  his  companions :  "  We  know  nothing  of  the 
owner  of  this  castle,  nor  of  the  people  inhabiting 
the  opposite  sides  of  the  great  wall.  They  may 
prove  to  be  either  our  enemies  or  our  friends,  so  I 
advise  that  we  be  cautious  until  we  know  what 
treatment  we  may  expect  from  them.  Two  of  us 
should  remain  here  while  the  third  boldly  enters 
inot  the  cities  to  make  inquiries." 

"  I  '11  go,"  said  Chick. 

"No,  indeed;  you're  too  young  and  too  small," 
objected  Para  Bruin. 

"But  I'm  just  a  regular  child,  while  you're  a 
rubber  bear  and  John  Dough's  a  gingerbread  man," 
said  the  Cherub.  "They  wouldn't  think  anything 
of  my  being  here;  but  if  either  of  you  two  go 
there 's^iable  to  be  trouble." 

"  The  Cherub  is  wise  for  one  so  young,"  observed 
John.  "  Therefore  we  will  let  the  child  visit  the 
cities  and  report  to  us.  Having  found  the  castle 

300 


"THE  CHERUB  IS  WISE  FOR  ONE  SO  YOUNG" 


30! 


Hiland      and          ol 


a  n 


deserted,  we  will  take  the  liberty  of  occupying  it 
until  our  little  friend  returns." 

So  they  opened  one  of  the  great  doors,  and  Chick 
walked  boldly  out  into  the  main  street  of  the  high 
and  narrow  city  to  the  eastward. 

Pacing  before  the  entrance,  as  if  guarding  the 
doorway  from  without,  was  a  soldier  who  stood 
more  than  seven  feet  in  height,  but  who  was 
so  exceedingly  thin  and  slender  that  it  really 
seemed  as  if  some  strange  power  had  stretched 
him  out  lenghtwise.  But  Chick  noticed  that  all 
the  people  walking  along  the  streets  of  this  city 
were  just  as  tall  and  slight  as  the  soldier,  and 
quickly  understood  why  the  doors  and  windows 
of  their  houses  had  been  built  so  singularly  tall 
and  narrow. 

The  soldier  seemed  surprised  when  the  Cherub 
emerged  from  the  deserted  castle,  but  he  took  off 
his  tall  hat  and  bowed  politely.  His  uniform  was 
of  blue  cloth,  with  brass  buttons. 

"What  place  is  this?"  asked  Chick. 

"  This,  beauteous  stranger,  is  the  great  coun- 
try of^Hiland,"  answered  the  soldier,  respectfully. 
"And  this  is  the  great  city  of  Hie  which  you  see 
before  you ;  and  the  great  people  you  observe  are 
called  Hilanders;  and  I  do  not  suppose  there  is  so 

302 


H  i  1 


a  n 


a  n 


d     L  o  1 


a  n 


d 


great  and  wonderful  a  country,  or  city,  or  people 
anywhere  else  in  all  the  world." 

"What  is  the  castle  called?"  asked  the  child. 

"We  call  it  the  castle  of  Hilo,"  said  the  man. 
"It  was  the  dwelling  of  the  former  King  of  Hilo, 
who  ruled  over  our  great  nation  as  well  as  over 
the  miserable  creatures  residing 
on  the  other  side  of  the  wall." 

"  But  where  is   your   King 
now?'      inquired     Chick. 
"  The  castle  is  empty." 

"  To  be  sure  the  castle 
is  vacant  at  present,  for 
our  King  is  long  since 
dead,"  the  soldier  re- 
plied.    "  But  we  are 
patiently    awaiting 
the    arrival    of   his 
There 


successor. 


303 


is  a  prophecy  that 
our  next  ruler  will 
be  a  King  who  is 
wise  and  just,  but 
not  made  of  flesh 
and  blood,  and  al- 
though this 


Hiland      and          ol 


a  n 


an  impossible  thing,  our  people  hope  that  the 
prophecy  will  some  day  be  fulfilled." 

"But  why  don't  you  make  one  of  your  own 
people  king?"  asked  Chick. 

"  Because  the  island  is  divided  into  two  sections, 
and  one  king  must  rule  both  sides  of  the  wall," 
replied  the  man.  "  Of  course  we  would  not  allow 
one  of  the  insignificant  Loes  to  rule  us,  nor  will 
they  consent  to  allow  one  of  our  noble  Hies  to 
rule  them.  Therefore  we  must  get  along  without 
a  king  until  the  arrival  of  the  wise  and  just  ruler 
who  is  neither  flesh  nor  blood." 

"Who  are  the  Loes?"  the  child  asked. 

"  I  have  never  seen  them,  my  dear,  for  the  great 
wall  divides  them  from  our  superior  nation,"  said 
the  soldier ;  "  but  they  are  said  to  be  short  and  squat, 
and  very  disagreeable.  They  live  on  the  other  side 
of  the  island." 

"Thank  you  for  the  information,"  said  Chick, 
and  then  turned  and  re-entered  the  castle. 

"What  did  you  find  out?"  inquired  John  and 
Para  Bruin,  in  the  same  breath. 

Th^child  carefully  related  the  conversation  with 
the  Hie  soldier,  and  then  said: 

"  Now,  I  '11  go  into  the  other  city,  and  find  out 
what  the  people  on  that  side  of  the  wall  have  to  say." 

304 


H  i  1 


a  n 


a  n 


d      L  o  1 


a  n 


So  John  and  Para  opened  the  door  at  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  arched  hall,  and  the  Cherub  passed 
out  and  came  upon  another  soldier,  who  seemed  to 
be  standing  guard  at  the  castle  entrance.  This  one 
was  dressed  in  a  red  uniform,  with  silver  buttons, 
and  was  the  shortest  and  fattest  person  Chick  had 
ever  beheld.  But  his  broad  face  was  smiling  and 


good-natured  in  expression,  and  he  tipped  his.  low, 
flat  hat  gracefully  to  the  pretty  Incubator  Baby. 

"What  country  is  this?"  asked  the  child. 

"  This,  most  lovely  one,  is  the  superb  and  grand 
country  of  Loland,"  replied  the  man ;  "  and  this 
splendid  city  you  behold  is  the  city  of  Lo ;  and 
our  magnificent  people  are  called  Lolanders." 

305 


Hiland      and      Loland 

"  What  is  the  castle  called  ? "  Chick  inquired, 
curiously. 

"It  is  the  Castle  of  Lohi,  inhabited  by  our  King 
—  when  we  have  one — who  also  rules  the  poor 
barbarians  who  dwell  outside  of  our  paradise,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  wall." 

"When  do  you  expect  to  have  another  king?" 
asked  the  Cherub. 

"Whenever  one  comes  who  is  wise  and  just,  and 
is  not  made  of  flesh  and  blood,"  replied  the  man. 
"We  have  a  legend  that  such  a  king  shall  rule  us, 
but  for  my  part  I  do  not  believe  there  is  a  person 
of  that  description  in  all  the  world." 

"Yet  there  may  be,"  suggested  Chick,  who  had 
been  thinking  that  the  description  just  fitted  John 
Dough. 

"  Oh,  of  course  there  may  be,"  agreed  the  man, 
cordially;  "and  if  there  is,  and  he  comes  to  our 
island,  every  one  on  both  sides  the  wall  will  hail  him 
as  king." 

Looking  along  the  streets  of  the  city  of  Lo, 
Chick  saw  that  all  the  people  were  as  short  and  fat 
as  this^soldier,  and  that  they  waddled  like  ducks 
when  they  walked.  But  they  seemed  as  busy  as 
bees  in  a  hive,  and  appeared  to  be  happy  and  con- 
tented; so  the  child  could  not  decide  which  was 

306 


H  i  1 


a  n 


a  n 


d     L  o  1 


a  n 


the  finest  country — that  of  the  short  people  or 
that  of  the  tall  ones.  Both  cities  seemed  prosper- 
ous, and  on  both  sides  of  the  wall  the  island  was 
charmingly  beautiful. 

It  may  appear  strange  to  the  reader  that  neither 
of  the  soldiers  Chick  had  spoken  with  made  any 
attempt  to  question  the  child.  But  afterward  our 
friends  found  that  one  of  the  established  laws  of 
the  island  forbade  any  of  the  people  to  ask  ques- 
tions either  of  strangers  or  of  those  inhabiting  the 
country  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  wall.  How- 
ever, they  were  not  forbidden  to  answer  any  ques- 
tions properly  addressed  to  them,  and  by  nature 
both  the  tall  people  and  the  short  people  were 
extremely  courteous  and  polite. 

Chick  decided  this  queer  law  was  to  blame 
for  the  misunderstanding 
between  the  two  nations, 
for,  as  neither  country  knew 
anything  at  all  about  the 
other  one,  a  feeling  of  mu- 
tual contempt  and  indiffer- 
ence had  arisen  between 
them. 


307 


King  Dough 


After  the  conversation  with  the  soldier,  Chick 
went  back  to  the  hall  of  the  castle  and  told  John 
Dough  and  Para  Bruin  what  the  man  had  said. 

"They  all  expect  a  wise  and  just  ruler,  who  is 
not  made  of  flesh  and  blood,"  reported  the  little 
one ;  "  so  I  guess  it 's  up  to  you,  John,  to  run  this 
island." 

"  I  'm  surprised,"  said  Para  Bruin,  "  that  they  do 
not  prefer  a  king  who  is  made  of  pure  rubber  and 
can  bounce.  But  if  they  want  John  Dough  instead 
of  me  I  'm  willing  to  yield  in  his  favor." 

"You  shall  be  my  Chief  Counselor,"  replied 
John ;  "  only  I  reserve  the  right  to  act  as  I  please 
in  case  I  do  not  like  your  counsels." 

"That  is  entirely  fair  and  reasonable,"  declared 
Para  Bruin,  "  and  I  thank  you  for  the  honor  you 
have  conferred  upon  me." 

"I  'm  going  to  be  Head  Booleywag,"  said  Chick, 
gravely. 

308 


King    Dough    and    His    Court 

"What's  that?"  asked  John. 

"It's  the  one  that  rules  the  ruler,"  said  the 
smiling  Cherub.  "  So  just  behave  yourselves  — 
you  and  your  Chief  Counselor  —  and  you'll  both 
find  I  know  my  business." 


Thereupon  the  child  led  John  Dough  to  the 
King's  attiring-room,  and  hunted  in  the  closets 
until  a  fine  ermine  robe  and  a  crown  and  scepter 
were  discovered.  The  crown  was  a  little  tarnished 


309 


King    Dough    and    His    Court 

from  lack  of  use,  -but  the  jewels  in  it  still  sparkled 
brightly;  so  the  bear  set  it  upon  John's  gingerbread 
head  and  put  the  scepter  in  his  right  hand.  Chick 
folded  the  ermine  robe  around  him  in  such  a  way 
that  his  missing  left  hand  was  not  noticed,  and 
then  they  led  the  gingerbread  man  to  the  great 
hall  and  placed  him  in  the  royal  throne. 

He  might  have  looked  more  dignified  had  not 
his  nose  been  badly  chipped  and  his  left  glass  eye 
so  loose  in  its  socket  that  it  rolled  every  way  but 
the  right  way;  however,  the  robe  concealed  the 
fact  that  his  shirt-front  was  soiled  and  cracked,  and 
that  several  lozenge-buttons  had  broken  off  during 
his  recent  adventures.  But  kingly  robes  and  a 
kingly  crown  cover  many  defects,  and  when  Para 
Bruin  and  the  Cherub  stood  back  and  took  a 
critical  look  at  their  friend  they  felt  quite  proud  of 
his  regal  appearance. 

When  all  had  been  made  ready  and  John  was 
seated  in  the  throne,  Chick  went  to  the  west  door 
of  the  castle  hall  and  threw  it  open,  and  at  the 
same  time  Para  Bruin  opened  wide  the  east  door. 
Then,  together,  they  cried  out  to  the  people: 

"The  King  has  come!  Enter  his  castle,  all  ye 
Hilanders  and  Lolanders,  and  greet  the  new  ruler 
in  a  fitting  manner!' 

310 


KING    DOUGH    THE    FIRST 


311 


So  the  tall  and  slender  people  trooped  in  at  one 
door  and  the  short  and  fat  people  trooped  in  at 
the  other;  and  all  gazed  with  awe  and  reverence 
at  the  strange  form  of  the  gingerbread  king,  who 

312 


King    Dough    and    His    Court 

was  surely  not  flesh  and  blood,  and  might  easily  be 
a  wise  and  just  ruler. 

There  was  no  disputing  the  fulfillment  of  the 
prophecy ;  so  all  bowed  humbly  before  John,  whom 
Chick  introduced  to  his  subjects  in  a  shrill,  child- 
ish voice  as  "King  Dough  the  First,  ruler  of  the 
Twin  Kingdoms  of  Hiland  and  Loland." 

Afterward  there  was  feasting  and  rejoicing  in 
both  cities,  and  John  made  a  royal  procession  on 
both  sides  of  the  great  wall,  being  everywhere 
received  with  shouts  of  enthusiastic  joy. 

The  gingerbread  man  proved  a  very  successful 
ruler;  and  as  neither  he  nor  Para  Bruin  ate  any- 
thing and  Chick  returned  to  a  diet  of  oatmeal  and 
cream,  the  King's  expenses  were  very  light,  and  he 
was  not  obliged  to  tax  his  people  to  support  his 
royal  state. 

One  of  the  first  laws  he  made  was  that  no  one 
in  the  two  nations  should  eat  gingerbread  that  was 
more  than  three  days  old,  under  pain  of  death; 
this  prevented  his  ever  being  in  danger  when  he 
traveled  in  either  land. 

Another  thing  he  did  was  to  engage  a  fat  little 
woman  of  Loland  to  make  and  bake  him  a  new 
gingerbread  hand,  having  five  excellent  fingers  at 
the  end  of  it.  Also  she  made  gingerbread  patches 

313 


King    Dough    and    His    Court 

to  fit  his  broken  ear  and  his  crumbled  nose  and  his 
damaged  heel,  as  well  as  some  lovely  new  coat- 
tails  ;  and  when  the  hand  and  all  these  patches 
were  placed  where  they  belonged,  John  drank  the 
cordial  contained  in  the  silver  flask  that  the  Beaver 
Fairy  had  given  him,  and  at  once  the  new  ginger- 
bread became  a  part  of  his  body,  and  he  was  as 
perfect  as  the  day  he  had  left  Monsieur  Jules' 
bake-shop. 

The  woman  also  repaired  his  frosting  and 
fastened  some  new  lozenge-buttons  to  his  waist- 
coat, after  which  John  presented  so  neat  and 
respectable  an  appearance  that  all  his  people  were 
very  proud  of  him. 

Para  Bruin  also  became  a  great  favorite  in  the 
two  cities,  and  the  tall  and  short  folks  loved 
to  watch  him  stand  upon  the  high  wall  that 
divided  the  two  nations,  from  which  he  would 
leap  to  the  ground  and  immediately  bound  back 
again  to  his  station  on  the  wall.  He  was  always 
good-natured  and  cheerful,  quite  winning  the 
hearts  of  the  Hilanders  by  poking  fun  at  the 
Lolanders,  and  afterward  delighting  the  Lolanders 
by  jeering  at  the  Hilanders. 

So  Para  Bruin's  life  was  a  happy  one,  and  for 
countless  years  he  remained  the  close  friend  and 

314 


King    Dough    and    His    Court 

companion   of  King  Dough  the   First,  the  popular 
and  worthy  ruler  of  Hiland  and  Loland. 

The  Records  of  the  Kingdom  say  very  little  of 
Chick's  later  history,  merely  mentioning  the  fact 
that  the  King's  most  valuable  assistant  was  the 
Head  Booleywag,  who  grew  up  to  be  the  especial 
favorite  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  island.  But, 
curiously  enough,  the  Records  fail  to  state  whether 
the  Head  Booleywag  was  a  man  or  a  woman. 


THE     END 


PBAIRIEBOG 
TOWN 


LAURA    BANCROFT 


LAUR.A      BAN   C  R.  O  F   T 


THE    TWINKLE    TALES 

SIX   CHARMING    NEW    STORIES    FOR    CHILDREN 

BY     LAURA     BANCROFT 

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BY    L.    FRANK    BAUM 


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S    -  .... 


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MYSTERY 


